What is under a wart?

Under a wart, there is typically a thickened area of skin formed by an overgrowth of keratin, the protein that makes up the outer layer of the skin. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can contain small blood vessels that may appear as tiny black dots. Beneath the wart, the skin may show signs of irritation or inflammation due to the virus's effect on the skin cells. Overall, warts are benign growths that usually do not involve deeper layers of tissue.