Genital warts usually first appear as tiny, flesh‑colored or slightly darker bumps on or around the genitals or anus, and they can be easy to miss because they are often very small.

How they look at first

  • Size and shape : At the beginning, they are often pin‑sized or slightly larger , soft, and may look like small rough or bumpy dots rather than obvious “warts.”
  • Color : They can be skin‑colored, pink, red, or whitish‑grey , and sometimes blend in with the surrounding skin so they’re hard to spot.
  • Arrangement : They may appear alone or in small groups ; when clustered, they can start to resemble the tiny beginnings of a cauliflower‑like surface.

Where they usually show up

  • In people with vulvas : around the vaginal opening, labia, perineum (between vagina and anus), or around the anus ; sometimes inside the vagina or on the cervix where they are not visible without an exam.
  • In people with penises : on the penis shaft, head, scrotum, groin, or around/inside the anus.
  • In both : they can also appear in the mouth or throat after oral sex with someone who has HPV‑related warts.

Early symptoms and timing

  • Timing : Warts may appear weeks to months (sometimes even years) after exposure to HPV, so you might not notice them right away.
  • Feel and sensation : Often they are not painful , but some people notice itching, mild discomfort, or bleeding during sex as the first sign something is wrong.

When to see a clinician

If you notice any new bumps, rough spots, or cauliflower‑like changes in the genital or anal area—or have had a sexual partner recently diagnosed with HPV or warts—it’s important to get checked by a doctor, sexual‑health clinic, or dermatologist. They can confirm whether it’s warts (or something else) and discuss treatment and HPV‑vaccination options.

Bottom line : Early genital warts often look like small, soft, skin‑colored or slightly colored bumps that may be solitary or in small clusters; they can be subtle and are sometimes easier to feel than to see.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.