Professional foot care for all ages

What Is a Verruca or Wart?

Verrucae and warts are most commonly found on the foot but can also be found elsewhere on the body, such as the hands, elbows, and knees. They are generally harmless but can cause concern due to their unsightly appearance, rapid spread, or pain. At Acorn Sports Podiatry, our experienced podiatrist offers a number of treatment options to resolve this contagious virus painlessly.

Verrucae, also known as warts, are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is highly contagious and passed on by direct human contact. The virus thrives in areas of high moisture and dampness, such as bathrooms, showers, swimming pools, and changing rooms.

When To Seek Professional Advice?

While some verrucae may disappear on their own and some may respond to over-the-counter treatments, they can quickly become troublesome, spreading rapidly to other areas of the feet, growing larger, and often becoming painful.

At Acorn Sports Podiatry, we advise seeking expert advice before proceeding with any treatment to confirm the diagnosis and rule out any other possible skin conditions. Furthermore, we recommend visiting us if your verruca is painful, has spread and multiplied, altered in appearance, or is restricting your daily activities.

How Can I Resolve The Issue Myself?

Please consult a podiatrist, GP, or pharmacist before using over-the-counter caustics for the treatment of verrucae/warts.

There are many products available from pharmacies for treating verrucae, with some working better than others. Your GP may prescribe you an ointment or paint to help resolve the problem. The ointments and paints prescribed by GPs or available from pharmacies usually contain salicylic acid, which removes the top layer of skin a few days after application. They then require filing and re-application of the ointment or paint. If this procedure is carried out regularly, most cases can be resolved in 3-4 months on average.

Professional Verruca Treatment

Cryotherapy (Freezing)

Cryotherapy is a very safe process of eliminating and eradicating the virus by using liquid nitrogen. The idea is to provide a short, sharp shock to the cells of the skin by freezing them, destroying the affected tissue cells. This is a very straightforward procedure with minimal risk and disruption to our patients but may require multiple treatments.

Strong Acid Treatment

At Acorn Sports Podiatry, we use very strong acids that cannot be bought over the counter or prescribed by GPs. They are very effective at eradicating verrucae and warts and are usually painless during treatment, but some discomfort may be felt once the acid starts to work. Typically, this method requires several treatments before the virus-infected tissue is completely destroyed.

Verruca Needling (Falknor’s Needling)

Verruca needling is a minor surgical procedure that is carried out under local anaesthetic. The treatment involves puncturing the verrucae multiple times using a fine, sterile needle, activating antibodies to fight against the virus and causing a general immune response to eradicate the problem. The advantage of this treatment is that it’s painless and usually only requires a single treatment in most cases.

Other Verrucae Treatments

Other services we offer at Acorn Sports Podiatry for Verrucae treatment include: Falknors needling, Cryotherapy, Swift therapy and Acid treatments