How can I tell if a skin bump is a wart?

Warts can come in all shapes and sizes and can be anywhere.  They are usually flesh colored and raised, and rarely have any dark color to them.  They are most common on the hands and soles of the feet, also in children and athletes with close physical contact such as wrestlers.  Warts are generally harmless, although some people choose to have them removed for cosmetic reasons or due to pain.   In general skin bumps that are dark brown to black, irregularly shaped, bigger than the head of a pencil, and or growing quickly should be looked at by your doctor and are probably not warts.