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Verrucae are warts that can appear on your feet caused by the Human Papilloma Virus. They are often mistaken for corns, which usually appear on the sole of your feet (although they can also appear between the toes or ontop of  a digit of joint).

Verrucae often are described to have a cauliflower type appears and generally are around 5mm diameter in size, although they can be much smaller or larger than this.  They can occur individually or in clusters.  Most commonly they occur around the ball of the foot or at the heel, as these are our weight bearing area’s however, they can occur anywhere on the foot. 

Verrucae can often be mistaken for a corn.  A corn is essentially a lump of hard skin (Hyperkeratosis ) that occurs over a joint surface caused by pressure and friction.  In both cases your Podiatrist can make life more comfortable by paring down the hard skin and providing padding if required. 

Examples of Treatments and management (In no specific order)

1. Doing nothing.  Yes that is correct.  Often, if left for long enough, as a verrucae is a virus, the body will eventually get rid of the condition by itself with no intervention.  This method is more is more succesful with young children under the age of 12 (See NICE guidelines for more info.
2.  Topical Salicylic applications.   Salicylic acid type treatments, is where you paint on a quick drying paste to the verrucae site for up to around 12 weeks.  Never apply salicylic acid preperations to broken skin or to anyone with an aspirin allergy. 
3. Silver nitrate Caustic applicator.  Silver nitrate, a caustic, can be applied to the verrucae treatment.  It seems to work better when the verrucae lesion is significantly pared down.  
4. Cryotherapy.  This is a way of freezing a wart. It works by the rapid freeze-faw method, there short bursts of cryotherapy spray are applied to the verrucae wart lesion.  
5. Micro-wave therapy.  A relatively new treatment, aimed at resolving the verrucae
6. Lazer therapy.  Practitioners must of completed a course on lazer treatment. 
7. Needling. This is not for everyone.  The verrucae is punctured multiple times under local anaesthetic.  This can prove quite successful according to research. 

What is the best treatment method.  Well, this is a discussion to be had by your medical practitioner, for example, Doctor, pharmacist, Podiatrist. It depends on your age and health status, for example, we would not recommend salicylic acid products or caustics on someone with a compromised immune system, poor lower limb circulation or diabetes.  It is a case of finding out and discussing which treatment method suits you. 

If you feel you wish to learn more about treatments for verrucae on the feet call or email us to make an appointment on 

Mobile and out of hours enquiries 07748 142169

Sandbanks Clinic 01202 748 899

info@coastalpodiatry.co.uk

Further reading

https://www.bad.org.uk/pils/plantar-warts

NATIONAL INSTITUE FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/warts-verrucae/management/management

NHS Verrucae and wart management guide

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/warts-and-verrucas