Warts are benign growths on the skin caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts can appear on different parts of the body and come in many shapes and sizes. Some warts have small black dots known as wart seeds. These dots are actually clotted capillaries caused by the virus. Understanding what wart seeds look like can help identify certain types of warts.
What are wart seeds?
Wart seeds, also called seed warts or punctate warts, are tiny black dots that appear on some types of warts. These dots are often clustered together in a group and resemble black seeds, hence the name wart seeds.
Wart seeds are actually thrombosed capillaries. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that run throughout the body just under the surface of the skin. When a wart develops, it causes abnormal growth of cells in the outer layer of skin. This disrupts the normal structure of capillaries in that area. Blood clots form inside the capillaries, resulting in thrombosis. This gives the appearance of black dots on the surface of the wart.
While wart seeds can occur on all types of warts, they are most commonly associated with verruca vulgaris warts. These warts have a rough surface and tend to develop on the hands and feet. The seeds are scattered throughout clusters on the surface of the wart.
What causes wart seeds?
Wart seeds are caused by infection with human papillomavirus. There are over 100 strains of HPV. Different strains tend to infect different areas of the body. The strains that cause common warts and plantar warts are most likely to produce wart seeds.
When HPV infects the outer layer of skin cells, it triggers rapid growth resulting in a wart. The virus causes keratinocytes, which are the main cells in the outer layer of skin, to proliferate abnormally. This disordered overgrowth combined with the virus’ effect on capillaries leads to thrombosis within blood vessels. The clotted blood vessels then appear as black dots across the surface of the wart.
In essence, wart seeds result from the wart itself and the changes it creates in the skin’s structure. Seeds are not spread from wart to wart. Rather, the HPV infection triggers seed wart development.
What do wart seeds look like?
Wart seeds appear as tiny black dots approximately the size of a pinhead. The dots represent thrombosed capillaries just underneath the thickened skin. Seeds often cluster together in a group ranging from a couple dots to a dozen or more.
Here are some key identifying features of wart seeds:
– Small black dots
– Approximately 1-2 mm in size
– Clustered together in a group
– Scattered across the surface of a wart
– Resemble ground black pepper sprinkled on the wart
In some cases, seeds may merge together into larger black patches rather than distinct dots. The number of seeds can vary widely from just a couple to over 100. Technically, the dots are not actually seeds. The term “seed” refers to their pepper-like appearance.
Types of warts that get seeds
While any type of wart can develop seeds, some are more likely to get them. Common warts and plantar warts most frequently have wart seeds.
Common warts
Also called verruca vulgaris, common warts often occur on hands and fingers. They have a rough, bumpy texture and are usually skin-colored. When seeds develop, they appear as black dots scattered across the surface of common warts.
Plantar warts
Plantar warts grow on the soles of the feet. Pressure from walking pushes them further into the skin, giving them the appearance of a hole with black seeds inside. They tend to be painful.
Flat warts
Flat warts are smooth, flat-topped lesions that can occur anywhere on the body. They only rarely develop seeds and tend to be more common in children and teens.
Filiform warts
These unusual finger-shaped warts grow on the face, especially around the lips and nose. Seeds sometimes occur on filiform warts.
Periungual warts
Periungual warts form around the nails and can discolor or deform nail growth. They only occasionally have seeds.
Are wart seeds contagious?
The wart seeds themselves are not contagious. They are simply capillaries that have thrombosed within an existing wart. You cannot spread seeds from one wart to another.
However, the HPV virus that causes warts is very contagious. HPV is transmittable through direct skin-to-skin contact. If you touch a wart and then touch another person, you risk spreading the virus. Plantar and common warts are especially contagious.
Wart seeds indicate the presence of HPV. So while the seeds are not contagious, their presence suggests contagious virus is active in that wart. Avoid direct contact with any warts that have seeds. Also, do not touch your own warts and be diligent about washing hands.
Are wart seeds dangerous?
While unsightly, wart seeds are harmless. They do not present any health risk or indicate a more serious condition. Seeds develop as a result of the wart itself.
Sometimes wart seeds can bleed slightly if they become injured or irritated. This bleeding is usually minor and not a safety concern. Keep the area clean to prevent infection.
The only risk wart seeds pose is discomfort if they occur in an area like the bottom of the foot where they can be painful. Overall, seeds themselves are not dangerous and can be safely left alone or removed along with the wart.
Can you remove wart seeds?
Removing wart seeds alone is not possible. Seeds are embedded capillaries within the dense mass of the wart. To remove seeds, the entire wart must be destroyed and eliminated.
Here are some common wart and seed removal methods:
Salicylic acid
Over-the-counter products contain salicylic acid to slowly remove warts layer by layer. As you peel away the outer skin, seeds will gradually disappear.
Cryotherapy
Liquid nitrogen is applied by a doctor to freeze and destroy warts. Cryotherapy kills wart tissue so seeds will be removed as the wart disappears.
Electrosurgery
A medical procedure using an electrical current to burn and desiccate wart tissue. The seeds will be removed with the dead wart.
Laser surgery
High-intensity laser light destroys wart tissue. Lasers eliminate seeds as the wart is eliminated.
Cantharidin
This topical blistering agent applied by a doctor causes a blister to form under the wart, separate it from skin, and shed seeds and wart tissue.
Consistent removal treatment is needed to fully get rid of a wart and associated seeds. Seeds may initially still be visible as warts start to resolve. Complete wart removal also removes visible seeds.
When to see a doctor for wart seeds
Most warts and seeds can be self-treated with over-the-counter salicylic acid products. See a doctor if:
– Warts are widespread, rapidly multiplying, or extremely large
– Warts bleed excessively when seeds are irritated
– Seeds and warts do not respond to salicylic acid treatment
– Warts are painful or interfering with daily activities
– You are immunosuppressed and warts keep recurring
Dermatologists can provide prescription strength treatments and procedures to remove difficult warts and seeds. Early consultation is recommended for warts on the face or genital area.
Are black dots always wart seeds?
While black dots on warts are typically wart seeds, other dark spots can sometimes mimic their appearance. Here are a few other possibilities:
Blood blisters
Trapped blood under the skin due to friction or injury. Blood blisters are darker red.
Corn/callus
Thickened, dead skin with black debris trapped in deeper grooves.
Melanoma
Dark spots within a mole. Irregular borders or change in an existing mole should be evaluated.
Seborrheic keratosis
Benign growth with black crusty appearance. Easily scratched off.
Skin tags
Small fleshy skin flaps which rarely have black dots.
Careful visual examination helps distinguish true wart seeds from lookalike spots. Check for rough wart texture, clustered grouping, and presence on hands or feet. When in doubt, seek medical advice.
Conclusion
Wart seeds are small black dots representing thrombosed capillaries within a larger wart. Seeds frequently occur in common warts and plantar warts. Though unsightly, they are not dangerous or directly contagious. Removing the entire wart also eliminates visible seeds. Persistent wart treatment is needed to fully resolve both warts and seeds. While often indicative of a wart’s presence, seeds themselves do not pose risk. With proper management, warts and seeds can be successfully eliminated.