Verrucas
Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
What are verrucas?
Verrucas are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The virus causes skin cells in the affected area to produce excess keratin (a skin protein), resulting in a hard bump.
They are usually found on the feet and are sometimes referred to as plantar warts.
Verrucas at sk:n
Our Doctors have treated over 14,500 wart & verruca clients, and understand the discomfort and distress these conditions can cause.
Here at sk:n we have trained specialists in dermatology who can recommend a range of treatments that are much more effective than the home remedies available over-the-counter.
Symptoms
Skin growths
Just like a wart, when the skin has become infected with the HPV virus, it can cause whitish circular skin growths to appear. Verrucas are not usually painful unless there are many of them on one part of the foot, which could make walking uncomfortable.
Visual description
Verrucas are firm to the touch and quite flat. Roundish in shape, they can vary in size (between 1mm – 1cm). Some may have one or several black dots in the middle (these are blocked blood vessels).
Natural remedies
Duct tape
Cover the verruca with duct tape (cut a piece about the same size as the verruca) and leave it on for six days. Then remove the tape, soak the verruca in water and exfoliate with a pumice stone. Leave the tape off overnight and repeat the process until the verruca is gone.
Essential oils
Essential oils such as tea tree, oregano, lemon, thyme, eucalyptus, lavender and cedarwood, are sometimes used as a natural remedy for verrucae. Apply the oil directly onto the affected area using a cotton bud, up to three times a day.
Over-the-counter remedies
Salicylic acid-based products
These work by dissolving a layer of skin, softening the verruca so that it can be exfoliated off with an emery board or pumice stone.
Dimethyl ether propane-based cold sprays
These freeze the verruca, causing it to die and drop off. These types of at-home sprays are not as powerful as professional freezing treatments which use liquid nitrogen.
Available in pharmacies, these methods of removal can be costly and time-consuming as they may take many treatments to be effective.
Treatment types at sk:n
Laser verruca removal. A specialised laser heats up the verruca’s blood vessels causing them to collapse and stop the blood supply. This starves the verruca of nutrients so it naturally falls off after a few weeks.
Verruca excision. The verruca is sliced away from the skin using a surgical scalpel. This procedure can be done under local anaesthetic and will require a small stitch. This treatment offers immediate results.
Verruca cryotherapy involves using liquid nitrogen to freeze off the verruca, causing it to die and naturally fall off.
Frequently asked questions
How do you catch a verruca?
Verrucas are easily contracted through direct contact from a verruca to healthy skin. It is also possible to develop a verruca through contact with objects that have been touched by the infected skin, such as towels, shoes and socks. As verrucas are contagious, the best prevention is to treat them as soon as possible to avoid them spreading.
Are verrucas contagious?
Yes, verrucae are contagious and can easily spread in areas where people often have bare feet, such as public swimming pools.
Do verrucas go away by themselves?
Verrucas are harmless and will go away on their own eventually, but the process can take months or even years for some people.
Here at sk:n we have a range of treatments designed to help you get the skin you want.
From laser verruca removal to cryotherapy, our specialist doctors can recommend the best path for you to take.
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