Verrucae & Wart Treatment

, the If you have tried unsuccessfully to win the fight against persistent Verrucas and Warts, then our chiropodists in Haywards Heath can help with individually designed Verruca and Wart treatment.

Verrucae are caused by a virus, the human papillomavirus, and this is the same virus that causes warts, so a verruca is simply a wart on the foot. There are over 70 types of human papillomavirus so verrucae come in many shapes and sizes; some are easier to treat than others. The infected cells cannot be cured, they must be destroyed. If any of the cells survive treatment, then the verruca will reappear.

How do I know if I have a verruca?

The surface usually appears rough and cauliflower-like, and you may also see small black dots – these are old blood vessels, not roots which is a common misconception! Verrucae rarely hurt to press unless they are large. They will, however, hurt if they are squeezed and the opposite is usually the case for corns. As there are so many different types, it is better to let a podiatrist give you a diagnosis.

Types Of Treatment

Treatment varies depending on various factors, e.g. type, size, number, location, the age of the patient, patient’s occupation, etc. At the Sussex Foot Centre, we offer various treatments to suit you and the type of verruca or wart, including cryotherapy, caustic therapy and verruca needling where appropriate:

• Cryotherapy (freezing) – For wart and verruca freezing, the freeze is usually applied via a probe; this minimizes the trauma to the surrounding area and allows for deeper penetration of the freeze. It may also be applied as a spray.

• Caustic Therapy – Caustics are applied usually on a weekly basis for 4-6 weeks, dependent on the size and persistence of the verruca, and are much stronger and more effective than treatments that you can purchase from a pharmacist. Self-applied home treatments are usually added between visits to speed up treatment time.

• Dry Needling – Verruca needling is carried out painlessly under local anaesthetic. A sterile needle is then used to cause a localised trauma to the verruca itself. The aim of this is to implant the virally infected cells deeper into the tissue where it is quickly detected by the immune system and an immune response is stimulated. This process has been around for nearly 40 years but it’s only recently reaching the shores of the UK from the states. It is very effective and suitable for most verrucas.