Verrucas & Warts

Life & Sole - Verrucas & Warts

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A verruca, or plantar wart, is a symptom of the highly contagious Human Papilloma Virus. It is thought that the virus thrives in warm, damp environments, such as swimming pools, communal showers and changing rooms where people walk bare-foot. However there is no real scientific evidence to back this theory up.

Verrucae often appear cauliflower-like with small, black dots. They are themselves harmless, but if they form on a weight bearing part like on the sole of the foot, they can be uncomfortable or painful; especially so if a cluster of small warts develops. They usually disappear without treatment.

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“Oh verruca, how do I treat thee? Let me count the ways”

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There are many options but no one can guarantee success of any one treatment as people vary in their response to their therapies.

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* Do nothing – If possible, don’t even touch it as this may cause it to spread to your hands. The body’s immune system should respond and fight the infection. However, this can take some time, maybe up to two years; during which regular callus removal by a podiatrist may help to ease discomfort.
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* Cover with duct tape in order to keep the verruca “soggy”. Banana skin pith may also be used, see our treatment sheet for further details.
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*Use over-the-counter treatments. Those containing salicylic acid are the most effective. Ensure you follow the instructions very carefully. These treatments may lead to chemical burns of the surrounding skin; they may also irritate the verruca and cause spreading if not successful. Not suitable for people with diabetes. We do not recommend these but they are available from  your pharmacist.

* Referral to a homeopath for painless treatment and a boost to your 'constitution'. This is, in our experience, especially useful for children.
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* Needling – This requires local anaesthesia. Several injections are needed to completely numb the area of the foot.
Depending on the size and number of verruca this treatment is successful in about 70% of cases. Treatments take around 60 minutes; a second appointment 16 weeks later is made at the time to check results.
If not fully resolved a second treatment session may be needed. If you have tried “everything” this may be the best option for you. However you will need an initial assessment with the podiatrist to make sure of the diagnosis and that this treatment it is suitable for you.

In the first instance we recommend an appointment for a definite diagnosis to make sure the lump on the foot is a verruca and not something else like a foreign body, splinter or a corn.