
Surely, on more than one occasion, you have heard of the petty. It is a term used to describe the common warts which, in general, appear on the hands and fingers, although they are also common in other parts of the body where friction occurs, such as the knees or legs. Although they are caused by the presence of a virus on the skin, the truth is that they are not usually dangerous, although they are unsightly and, depending on where they are located, they can cause some discomfort from rubbing. If you have these warts, you have surely wondered on occasion why the petty ones come out and how to remove them.
From unCOMO, we are going to answer these questions so that you know more about these warts, the main causes of their appearance and the different treatments and natural or homemade alternatives that exist for their elimination.
What are mean and how to recognize them
The petty are, in reality, common warts. They are recognized because it has a somewhat bulky, rounded and irregular shape, and it is not usual for them to exceed ten millimeters in size. Also, they are usually rough when touched.
They are also distinguished from other warts by their color. In fact, they are the same as that of the skin, although on some occasions it is true that it is observed that they are a little more pink or they acquire another shade more brown, yellow and even greyish. However, sometimes they are seen as small black areas or dots, which are nothing more than clotted blood vessels.
Usually, the petty ones They appear on the hands, fingers or around the nails, but they are also frequent in other areas of the body such as the knees or the scalp.

Why do the petty ones come out
The petty are caused by a virus on the skin, which attacks its cells, making them larger and irregularly shaped, giving way to the appearance of the wart. A process that usually takes between two and six months after infection.
Normally, the virus that causes the petty is that of the human papilloma (HPV), which is very common, in addition to different types. And, although some varieties of HPV are transmitted sexually, the truth is that most are spread by touch, by accidental or accidental contact with the skin of a carrier, or by sharing objects such as, for example, towels.
However, normally, for this transmission it is necessary that the person has a skin lesion, a scratch or the simple wound of badly removing a hangnail from the nails being sufficient.
In any case, it must be clarified that not all people are infected equally because everything depends on the immune system, although it is true that there are a number of risk factor’s that can make the appearance of petty people easier:
- Not having developed immunity against these viruses as happens in children and young people.
- Having a weakened immune system either due to low defenses at that time in a specific way or due to diseases such as HIV or AIDS.
- People with organ transplants are also more prone to stingy because their immune systems are often weaker.
In this other oneHOWTO article we explain Why do warts appear.
How the petty ones are removed
In general, the petty ones do not cause problems and, in many cases, disappear on their own over time. However, it is true that there are people who choose to eliminate them because they are annoying, especially when they are held in their hands. In addition, they have an unsightly component.
Currently, there are several treatments, all focusing mainly on remove warts individually. Among the most common are:
- Salicylic acid: the most common is that the doctor prescribes a treatment with medications that contain salicylic acid to exfoliate with which the wart is gradually eliminated.
- Acids: Although salicylic acid is the most common to remove the petty ones, it is also possible to use others such as trichloroacetic acid, which is used and acts in a similar way, although it is stronger.
- Cryotherapy: This technique is based on applying liquid nitrogen to the wart. The system consists of making a kind of blister under and around the wart and cooling the area to kill the tissue and detach it.
- To be: the laser is also another of the systems that make it possible to put an end to the petty because it kills the tissue, which ends up falling.
- Surgery: In some cases, the doctor may need to perform surgery to remove the wart. However, it is a minor surgery, usually done under local anesthesia.
Here you can find more information about How to treat warts.

How to remove the petty with home remedies
In addition to medical or clinical treatments, there are also home remedies to remove warts of this type::
- Scotch tape: Covering the wart with duct tape for several days, then wetting it, helps to remove the petty because it softens the skin and it is easier to remove all the dead tissue with the help of a pumice stone or file. However, this process has to be done progressively. It is not good to remove the wart in one go with this system because it can hurt.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil has properties that help the skin to be in perfect condition, which includes being able to deal with infections in the dermis by bacteria and viruses, among other conditions. Its use consists of applying it periodically on the petty one until it goes away with the help of a cloth or cotton.
- Castor oil: This product is widely used on the skin when there are problems with fungal infections, sunburns or warts because it helps them to disappear and to regenerate the dermis. Its application is made directly on the petty as in coconut oil.
- Onion: This food product, which is present in every home, has great antibacterial and antibiotic power, which also helps to eliminate HPV. Its application is very simple, you just have to cut a piece of onion and put it with a little salt in a container to release all the juice. This liquid is the one that is applied on the wart, leaving it to act for half an hour and then remove it with plenty of warm water.
From UNCOMO, we hope we have answered your questions about why the petty ones come out and how to remove them. It is always advisable that you consult with your doctor, especially before applying any treatment -even if it is homemade or natural-, in order to verify that, really, it is a petty one and not another type of skin condition. In addition, it will be able to indicate the most effective remedy for its elimination.
This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why do the petty ones come out and how to remove them, we recommend that you enter our category of Family Health.