What are verrucas?

It is now universally accepted that warts is or verrucae are caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

When you get a human papilloma virus of the skin, if it is on the hands or face it commonly looks like a small "cauliflower" of skin - which is easily recognizable to most of us as a wart.

When the same thing occurs on the sole of the foot, due to pressure, the wart cannot grow outwards from the skin surface. As such, it presses back into the surface of the skin becoming a verruca. Therefore warts and verrucas are essentially the same - only their appearance changes.

Where verrucas usually found?

Warts or verrucas can be found anywhere there is skin. Verrucas are found on the feet. Usually, verrucas are found on the weight bearing areas - the heel, side and ball of feet or the underside of the toes.

However they can be found between the toes or on the tips, sides or tops of the toes. They are rarely found on the top of the foot itself - although this is possible.

The distribution of verrucas if determined by where a human papilloma virus infection is most likely to be caught.

 What problems do verrucas cause?

Many verrucas do not cause any problems at all to the person with them. However they are socially unacceptable in that by having a verruca, a person is very contagious and is highly likely to be spreading verrucas to other people.

If a verruca is on weight-bearing area, such as the hardened skin on the heel, side of the foot or ball of the foot, or on the underside or tips of toes, then they verruca can be very uncomfortable on standing or walking.

 Cryotherapy:

Cryotherapy is the name given to freezing. The most common cryotherapy used for the treatment of verrucas is liquid nitrogen.

Cryotherapy is a treatment frequently used by doctors, podiatrists and podiatric surgeons. This treatment freezes the cells, the dead cells are removed by the podiatrist and further appointments made if necessary.

Electrosurgery (Excision of Verrucae):

Electrosurgery is our preferred treatment for Verrucae removal with better success rates for resistant verrucas. Using heat, electrosurgery destroys the cells of the verruca, releasing the human papilloma virus into the circulation and allowing an immune response to start. This treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic and you may return to most activities the following day. In our experience it is the most successful treatment especially when other treatments have failed. 

ALL THE ABOVE TREATMENTS ARE COVERED BY MEDICAL INSURANCE PROVIDERS.