Verrucae – Warts

A verruca / wart is the result of a viral infection that invades the skin with the human papilloma virus (HPV). They are both common in adults and children. The HPV virus is contagious though some people have a natural immunity to the virus.

They appear as small, dark almost puncture like marks that later turn grey or brown. A verucca may become raised and bumpy with the appearance of a cauliflower with small black spots in the middle, these are blood vessels called capillaries.

The virus thrives in warm, moist environments such as swimming pools, changing rooms and bathroom floors. Therefore, if you walk on the same surface as someone who is infected you could pick up the virus, but only if you have small or invisible cuts and abrasions that allow the virus to penetrate your skin.

It is also possible for a variety of more serious lesions to appear on the foot, including melanomas. Although rare, these conditions can sometime be misidentified as a wart. It is wise to consult a podiatrist when any suspicious growth or eruption is detected on the skin of the foot in order to ensure a correct diagnosis.

Treatment can be a very slow and frustrating process, if the verrucae/wart is persistent contact your podiatrist

What Podiatrists can do

• The podiatrist may use a variety of different medications to treat the wart.
• The wart can also be treated with cryosurgery which involves freezing the tissues.
• Recommend home treatment plans for you to carry out.
• The application of pads to re-distribute pressure away from the verruca.
• Verrucae are stubborn lesions and may take some time to reside depending on the patient and the severity of the condition.
• There is no guaranteed method of removing verrucae as they can be resistant to treatment.