What should you know about warts on the scrotum?

A wart is a rough or raised growth caused by a skin virus. Genital warts can occur on scrotal skin and may be flesh-coloured, pink, or slightly darker. Some are small and separate, while others form a cluster. A bump in this area may instead be an inflamed follicle, a cyst, or another lesion, so appearance alone cannot confirm the diagnosis. Do not assume that every scrotal bump is a sexually transmitted infection, but arrange an assessment if it is new, changing, or spreading.

Avoid shaving over the bump, picking it, or using ordinary hand, foot, or pharmacy wart liquid on scrotal skin. These products can irritate delicate tissue and obscure the examination. Keep the area gently clean and dry, and avoid sexual skin-to-skin contact with the affected area until you have medical advice. A clinician may discuss prescription treatment such as Imiquimod Treatment, or a procedure such as Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal), Electrosurgery, or Wart Removal, depending on the location, size, number, and diagnosis.

Book a dermatology or sexual-health assessment for a new scrotal growth, especially if it persists or multiplies. Seek prompt care for severe pain, marked swelling, pus, spreading redness, fever, bleeding that does not stop, or a rapidly changing lesion. These features can indicate irritation, infection, or a diagnosis other than a wart and should not be managed with home treatment.

Ask: Could this be a wart or another type of growth? Should I have testing for other genital infections? Which treatment is suitable for scrotal skin, and how should I protect nearby skin? Can treatment affect sexual contact while the area heals? What changes should lead me to return sooner?