Discover how to treat a verruca in this verruca 101!
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Posted: 17/11/23
We’re willing to bet that most of you will have dealt with a verruca at some point in your life. And while they can cause discomfort while you walk, on the whole, they’re pretty harmless. If you find yourself with one of these unwelcome guests, do not fear, as there are a range of at-home treatments designed to help restore your feet to their former glory. So, join us as we take you through all you need to know about verrucas, including how to spot one, what causes them and how to get rid of verrucas. Plus, we’ve also got some tips at the end to help prevent yours from spreading in the meantime!
What is a verruca?
Verrucas (a.k.a plantar warts) are types of warts that appear on the soles of the foot, usually in weight-bearing areas such as the heel, ball, and toes. Typically, verrucas can range from 1mm to over 1cm and are generally flat and rough in appearance. In the centre of the verruca, you can find small black dots, which are tiny blood vessels that have clotted close to the skin.
What causes verrucas?
Verrucas are caused by strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can be passed on by skin-to-skin contact and indirectly via contaminated surfaces e.g. swimming pool floors, communal showers and changing rooms. If left untreated, verrucas will usually go away of their own accord. However, this could take months and even years in some cases.
How to get rid of verrucas
So, you’ve spotted one on the bottom of your foot, and now you’re wondering how to treat a verruca as quickly as possible. Lucky for you, you don’t have to wait for them to up sticks all by themselves as there are plenty of verruca-fighting treatments on the market.
The most common at-home treatments for verrucas are creams, gels or medicated plasters that contain salicylic acid. This ingredient helps to soften the skin and break down the verruca while triggering your immune system to fight the verruca-causing virus. You can also find at-home cryotherapy treatments for verrucas (the process of freezing off verrucas), which expose the verruca to less extreme temperatures than if a GP were to conduct the treatment.
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However, it’s worth noting that the effectiveness of these treatments will vary from person to person, and there’s no guarantee that they will get rid of your verruca (nor prevent it from coming back). Your pharmacist will be able to advise you on the best treatment for your situation. Be sure to consult the packaging of any verruca treatment for correct dosage and application advice.
In these cases, they may refer you to a foot specialist who can provide treatments that are stronger than those you can get in-store or at a pharmacy, as well as conduct cryotherapy or surgical/laser removal.
How to prevent the spread of verrucas
Now you know how to get rid of verrucas, it’s time to give you the top tips on how to stop your verruca from spreading:
Do not share socks, shoes, or towels with anyone else.
Wear sandals in public spaces e.g. swimming pools, saunas, showers, etc. If you are unable to, cover it with a plaster or verruca sock.
Avoid touching or scratching your verruca.
Change your socks daily.
Keep your feet clean and dry thoroughly after any contact with water.
Do not use any equipment (e.g. nail files, pumice stones, etc) that you have used on your verruca elsewhere on the body.
Do not walk barefoot in public places.
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How to remove verrucas
We’re willing to bet that most of you will have dealt with a verruca at some point in your life. And while they can cause discomfort while you walk, on the whole, they’re pretty harmless. If you find yourself with one of these unwelcome guests, do not fear, as there are a range of at-home treatments designed to help restore your feet to their former glory. So, join us as we take you through all you need to know about verrucas, including how to spot one, what causes them and how to get rid of verrucas. Plus, we’ve also got some tips at the end to help prevent yours from spreading in the meantime!
What is a verruca?
Verrucas (a.k.a plantar warts) are types of warts that appear on the soles of the foot, usually in weight-bearing areas such as the heel, ball, and toes. Typically, verrucas can range from 1mm to over 1cm and are generally flat and rough in appearance. In the centre of the verruca, you can find small black dots, which are tiny blood vessels that have clotted close to the skin.
What causes verrucas?
Verrucas are caused by strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can be passed on by skin-to-skin contact and indirectly via contaminated surfaces e.g. swimming pool floors, communal showers and changing rooms. If left untreated, verrucas will usually go away of their own accord. However, this could take months and even years in some cases.
How to get rid of verrucas
So, you’ve spotted one on the bottom of your foot, and now you’re wondering how to treat a verruca as quickly as possible. Lucky for you, you don’t have to wait for them to up sticks all by themselves as there are plenty of verruca-fighting treatments on the market.
The most common at-home treatments for verrucas are creams, gels or medicated plasters that contain salicylic acid. This ingredient helps to soften the skin and break down the verruca while triggering your immune system to fight the verruca-causing virus. You can also find at-home cryotherapy treatments for verrucas (the process of freezing off verrucas), which expose the verruca to less extreme temperatures than if a GP were to conduct the treatment.
However, it’s worth noting that the effectiveness of these treatments will vary from person to person, and there’s no guarantee that they will get rid of your verruca (nor prevent it from coming back). Your pharmacist will be able to advise you on the best treatment for your situation. Be sure to consult the packaging of any verruca treatment for correct dosage and application advice.
When to speak to a GP about your verruca
The NHS states that you should see a GP if:
In these cases, they may refer you to a foot specialist who can provide treatments that are stronger than those you can get in-store or at a pharmacy, as well as conduct cryotherapy or surgical/laser removal.
How to prevent the spread of verrucas
Now you know how to get rid of verrucas, it’s time to give you the top tips on how to stop your verruca from spreading:
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