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Verrucae
What is a verruca?
Symptoms
Treatment
Self-management
What is a verruca?
A verruca is a wart on the foot caused by the Human Papilloma Virus which can be caught and spread very easily. They are often found on the soles of the feet and toes.
They tend to be common in children, young adults and people who use communal changing rooms.
Symptoms
They can look like clumps of hard skin and can be painful, particularly when on the weight-bearing part of your foot.
Treatment
There are no treatments that can guarantee the cure of a verruca. Most disappear within 2 years even if left alone. The older you are, the longer they tend to take to disappear.
Most treatments that are available in supermarkets or pharmacies damage the skin. DO NOT USE THESE TREATMENTS IF YOU HAVE DIABETES OR POOR CIRCULATION.
It is always best to consult your pharmacist if you are unsure if the treatments are suitable for you.
Self-management
It is a good idea to keep the verruca covered to prevent spread, especially in communal changing areas.
If the verruca becomes thick and painful, you could remove some of the surface hardness with a nail file. Keep this nail file for use on the infected area to prevent spreading the virus.
Also in this section
If your child has a problem which does not improve as you would expect with self-care, you should contact a healthcare professional for advice. This may be your GP, Pharmacist, NHS Podiatry Service or a Private Podiatrist.
Please make sure your Podiatrist is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and look out for the letters HCPC after their name.
