All warts have the same cause: human papillomavirus, or HPV. And you can take steps to avoid it.
You can get HPV from someone else or from something that someone who has HPV has touched. It’s easier for the virus to get into your body if you have cuts or scrapes.
These steps help:
- Wash your hands, especially after you touch a wart that you already have. And keep your hands dry, since warts like moisture.
- Wear shower shoes, thongs, or rubber swimming shoes whenever you go to a public pool, locker room, or use a shower that other people also use.
- Wash your feet thoroughly with a disinfectant soap after being in an area where the virus can spread.
- Don’t touch someone else’s wart. And don’t pick at your own warts.
- If you get pedicures, make sure your pedicurist doesn’t use the same tools on you that they use on other people.
- Don’t shave, brush, or clip areas that have warts.
- Do you already have a wart on your foot? Keep it dry to help prevent it from spreading.
