Verruca treatment

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What is a verruca?

A verruca is a viral wart, usually found on the sole of the foot or toes, and is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They can develop as one single wart or as a group of lesions known as a mosaic verruca. They can spread easily from person to person by direct skin contact or by exposure to the virus in damp places where people are likely to walk barefoot e.g swimming pools / communal showers. They can cause discomfort and pain and affect foot function.

How is verruca treated?

There are different treatment options to help manage a verruca. The majority of warts are self-limiting and will eventually resolve due to the body’s own immune response.

Painful and persistent verrucae can be treated by debriding (removing) any overlying callus and tissue that makes up a verruca. This process may also undertaken to prepare the area prior to other treatments. 

Debriding helps to remove any tissue that has been destroyed by acid treatments allowing further treatment to penetrate deeper 

Debriding the verruca so as to cause pinpoint bleeding can help stimulate the body’s immune response to fight off the virus.

Topical treatments containing salicylic acid which break the verruca down may be used.

Regular appointments may be required to remove any callus and optimise treatment

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