Verrucae treatment
A verruca is viral wart which is usually found on the plantar (bottom) surface of the foot. They are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is highly contagious through direct person to person contact. Although harmless, verrucae can be painful if they develop on a weight bearing part of the foot. In addition, callus can form over the surface increasing your discomfort. Some strains of the virus spread very easily from person to person and from one area of the body to another. If a verruca is persistent and does not resolve itself after an extended period of time or if the lesion becomes painful it may require treatment from a podiatrist. Here at the South Down Foot Clinic we offer the following verruca treatments:
Salicylic Acid is the active ingredient in this treatment. The level of acid contained in each form of treatment can vary. Acid based verruca treatment can be bought over the counter but due to their corrosive nature it is advised that patients consult with a podiatrist prior to use.
Needling is a painless treatment which is performed under local anaesthetic with one or more injections around the ankle to ensure the foot is completely numb before proceeding. The verruca is punctured with a small needle introducing the verruca cells from the epidermis through into the dermis and hypodermis or adipose layer thereby inoculating the underlying tissue. This triggers an immune response whereby the appropriate antibodies are produced. A simple sterile dry dressing is applied which must be kept dry for 24 hours. Over the subsequent weeks the verruca undergoes a natural deterioration before ultimately disappearing.
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