Warts come from an infection caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus infects the skin, usually entering through small cuts or breaks, such as scrapes or hangnails, allowing the virus to reach the basal layer of the skin where it stimulates extra cell growth. This results in the formation of a wart, which is a small, rough skin growth

. HPV is contagious and can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or indirectly via contaminated objects like towels, razors, or washcloths. Warts are more likely to develop on moist, soft, or damaged skin. They commonly appear on the hands, fingers, feet, and sometimes on the face or genitals, depending on the HPV strain involved

. In summary, warts originate from an HPV infection that causes the skin to grow abnormally, forming the characteristic lumps known as warts. The virus spreads through contact with infected skin or objects and thrives when the skin barrier is compromised