If you think you have a verruca and are considering verruca removal you may be asking some of the common questions we hear below at Beauchamp Foot Care.

 

1.  Do I have a verruca?

 

Verrucas are warts that develop on the soles of the feet. They generally appear as an area of flat, thick or rough skin with a hard edge around the outside. Sometimes they can have small black spots in the centre. They are often painful to touch, walk or stand on.

 

2.  How did I get a verruca?

 

Verrucas are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) which can be spread directly by skin-to-skin contact or indirectly by contracting them at public places like swimming pools or changing rooms. The virus causes an excessive amount of keratin, a hard protein, to develop which creates the rough, hard texture of the verruca.

 

3.  What are my verruca removal options?

 

There are a number of treatment options for verruca removal. These include cryotherapy (freezing), the application of chemicals, and surgery in extreme cases. At Beauchamp Foot Care we can discuss the different treatment options available to you.

 

• Cryotherapy – this uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the verruca. It can take more than one  treatment and sometimes causes scarring.
• Application of chemicals – there are both over-the-counter medicines and prescription based remedies that can be tried. How much it will take and precautions needed vary.
• Surgery – this is a less common form of verruca removal, but can be effective for extreme cases.

 

With whichever method of treatment is used, warts and verrucas can be difficult to remove and success cannot be guaranteed. In some cases several treatment sessions will be required and the infection may sometimes return.

 

4.  Is verruca removal painful?

 

Depending on the severity of the infection and the type of treatment you are receiving, verruca removal can cause some discomfort.

 

5.   Can’t I just do the verruca removal myself?

 

You can buy over-the-counter treatments and if the condition is quite mild you may be able to treat it yourself. Also, If you do any sort of research at all, you will find many claims of people who have tried verruca removal using a variety of home-made methods. Some examples include using duct tape, filing it off, or mixing up a concoction of ingredients found in your kitchen. You can read more about simple and strange at home treatments here. The safest and most effective option for verruca removal is to visit a chiropodist/podiatrist.

 

6.  Will my verruca come back?

 

Verrucas can be difficult to remove and do often end up coming back. Sometimes it can take several treatment sessions and sometimes they go away on their own.

 

7.  Why should I consider verruca removal at Beauchamp Foot Care?

 

The chiropodists/podiatrists at Beauchamp Foot Care each have more than 20 years experience in treating foot conditions like verrucas. The clinic uses state of the art equipment and is committed to continued professional development to ensure patients receive the best care and advice.

 

 

At Beauchamp Foot Care we believe you deserve to have beautiful, healthy feet and we are committed to help you make that happen. Contact us today to determine the best verruca removal option for you.

 

 

All information on this website is for general guidance only and is not intended as a substitute for the personal medical advice of health care professionals or your own doctor.