A Verruca, also known as a Plantar Wart, is a lump of tough skin that grows on the sole of the foot. They are recognizable by an area of hardened skin, often with a small black dot beneath the surface.
Verrucae Symptoms and Diagnosis
Verrucae can be painful, especially when walking; the sensation is often compared to walking on a needle.
Verrucae Cause
Verrucae are caused by a virus, known as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is contagious via direct contact that causes other warts such as genital warts and cold sores.
However, when it affects the foot, it is known as a verruca or a verruca pedis and occasionally also terms used such as plantar wart of the foot.
A verruca can occur when there is a break in the skin surface, allowing the virus to enter and cause an infection. Typically you may contract a verruca or wart if you walk barefoot on a rough surface or in a communal area, such as a public swimming pool.
Verrucae Treatment and Prevention
Verrucae will eventually go away by themselves, as your body naturally fights the virus that causes them. However, this can take a long time, sometimes years. As a result, treatment is often sought to quickly resolve the problem.
A verruca is extremely contagious, wearing a plaster over a verruca, or flip flops rather than being barefoot, can help to prevent the spread of the virus.
Treatment
Verrucae can often be treated with over-the-counter creams and ointments that can be obtained from the pharmacy.
If over-the-counter medicines fail to resolve the problem, then other treatments can be tried, including:
Cryotherapy – where the verruca are frozen off
Acid Treatments – where the verruca is burned off with an acid, such as Silver Nitrate
If these kinds of measures fail to eradicate the verruca, then surgical removal may be recommended. Click below to find out more about Verruca Surgery:
Q. How long does it take for a verruca to go away on its own?
A verruca can take months to a few years to go away on its own without treatment. On average:
In children, verrucae may resolve within 6 months to 2 years, as their immune systems tend to clear the virus more quickly.
In adults, they may take 2+ years or even longer to disappear naturally, or they may persist indefinitely if the immune system doesn’t clear the virus effectively.
Q. Will removing a verruca leave a scar?
The risk of scarring following verruca removal treatment depend on which treatment is carried out. There is moderate risk of scarring for cryotherapy treatment for example, especially with repeated treatments or deep freezing. Surgical removal has a higher risk of scarring, especially if the wart is large or deep.
Q. What is the main cause of verruca?
The main cause of a verruca (plantar wart) is the human papillomavirus (HPV)
Q. What is the best treatment for verrucae?
The best treatment to remove a verruca can vary with each individual, it is important to discuss with a podiatric specialist who can review and advise on options.
Q. How to remove a verruca root at home?
Home remedies have been varied and include old mother’s tales, such as banana skin or tea tree oil. It seems that over-the-counter treatments such as salicylic acids are the best way to try to treat a verruca at home.
Q. Are verrucae harmful?
In most cases, verrucae are not harmful — they’re benign (non-cancerous) skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). However, they can be bothersome or problematic in some situations.
