Warts and verrucas (plantar warts) are small, benign epidermal outgrowths caused by the human papillomavirus that result in hyperkeratinisation almost anywhere on the skin.

A verruca is a wart that has been compressed by the weight put upon it, eg, on the sole of the foot, and can be painful because of pressure exerted on nerve endings.

Warts and verrucas resolve spontaneously but are usually treated actively as resolution can take months or even years. Treatment is by removal of the hyperkeratotic skin layers and the viral core by keratolytic agents and other means.