What should you know about red warts on skin?

Common warts are rough, firm growths caused by a viral infection in the outer skin. Friction, shaving, scratching, or treatment can make one tender, crusted, or red. A wart may show tiny dark points and interrupt normal skin lines, but appearance alone is not enough for a diagnosis. A smooth red bump could instead be an irritated follicle, a benign growth, or another lesion. Warts can spread through direct contact or shared personal items, especially when the surface is damaged.

Keep the area clean and covered if it catches on clothing. Wash your hands after touching it, do not bite or shave over it, and avoid sharing towels, razors, or nail tools. Do not cut, burn, or use a strong home treatment on facial, genital, or very sensitive skin without medical advice. A clinician may discuss wart removal, freezing with cryotherapy, electrosurgery, or prescription treatment such as imiquimod, depending on the site and diagnosis.

Book an assessment if the growth bleeds without being knocked, becomes persistently painful, changes shape or colour, grows quickly, or fails to respond to sensible care. Seek prompt help for spreading redness, pus, fever, or severe swelling. Assessment is especially useful for a growth on the face, near an eye, around a nail, or on genital skin, and for anyone with reduced immunity or poor circulation.

Does this look like a wart or another type of lesion? Is treatment appropriate for this location? How can I reduce spread to nearby skin or family members?