Doctor-Led Verruca Treatment

Verrucas are small, rough lumps that occur primarily on the soles of the feet. They tend to have a textured appearance, a bit like a cauliflower. They can be raised or flattened (especially if they are where you tread).

Some verrucae have tiny black dots in the centre. These are caused by the blood clotting in tiny blood vessels on the surface of your skin.

Verrucas are caused by a virus known as HPV, or human papilloma virus. They are very contagious and can spread easily via contaminated surfaces or through close skin contact. You’re more likely to catch or spread a verruca if your skin is wet or damaged. Swimming pools have a reputation for being places for catching verrucae.

Not all verruca are uncomfortable, but they can be very painful if there is pressure on them where you walking or stand, or from footwear.

A verruca will usually go away eventually, but it can take a long time and they become more stubborn with age.

In children, about half go away within a year, and about two-thirds disappear within two years. It can be expected to take longer for adults. Cases of verruca lasting 5-10 years or even more.

There are a number of preparations available over the counter. Ask a chemist if you want to try a home treatment solution. We would recommend the following advice:

• Treat them early – don’t wait for them to get worse
• Follow the instructions very carefully
• Pare the verruca down with emery board or sandpaper as directed
• Never reuse the same emery board/sandpaper twice
• Apply solution as directed
• Continue for 4-6 weeks unless otherwise indicated
• Maintain excellent hygiene to avoid spreading verrucae. Don’t share towels and avoid walking around barefoot

This is something you may read about on the internet, but the evidence is poor for using duct tape on verruca. Bear in mind that duct tape is designed for industrial use. It was not intended for use on the skin and has been known to cause irritation and even topical dermatitis in some patients.

If you’re keen to try an ‘at home’ treatment, then an over the counter preparation from the chemist is likely to be safer and more effective.

You may find a variety of self-help suggestions on the internet, including apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, Vicks Vaporub, tea tree oil and even banana peel.

There is no clinical evidence to suggest any of these treatments will help treat your verruca

Plastic socks are available to protect the feet and avoid spreading verruca while swimming. However, the official advice from Swim England says:

“The use of devices, such as plastic socks, to protect the feet should be discouraged. As with elasticated knee bandages, the socks have limited value other than of attracting attention.

“The use of a waterproof plaster is sufficient to cover the verruca during lessons.”

Many people now wear flipflops to go from changing room to poolside. Check your local pool’s policy if you are unsure.

Yes, that’s certainly an option. Verrucae can be left untreated if they are not causing problems. However, if they are causing discomfort when you walk or put pressure on the foot, then it is generally best to get them treated. In addition, remember that verruca is quite contagious, so you may want to get rid of it to avoid the is a risk of passing it on e.g. swimming pool, gym, family bathroom.

Yes, our doctors and surgeons can work on more than one verruca in a single session. We would just need to consider whether this would cause any undue discomfort. We will assess all verrucas in your consultation and provide advice on the best approach to treatment, together with a quote.

Our appointment times are generous, so you can go ahead there and then with our ‘See & Treat’ policy, provided both patient and doctor/surgeon are both in agreement to do so.

This depends entirely on the nature of your verruca as well as the treatment we carry out.

Cryotherapy may take 2-3 sessions to fully eliminate the verruca. A more surgical approach could be effective in just one visit. Our doctors and surgeons will assess your verruca first, then advise on the most suitable treatment method and let you know how many treatments you’re likely to need.