VERRUCAE

Providing help and advice on the removal of Verruca in Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge and the surrounding areas.

What is a Verruca?

Verrucae are caused by the HPV virus (human papilloma virus) types 1, 2 and 4, which are responsible for the lesions we know as verrucae.

Although not often associated, verrucae are warts and warts are verrucae but warts, as we call them, are found on the hands and verrucae on the feet.

HOW TO IDENTIFY IF YOU HAVE A VERRUCA

Visually, 3 types of Verruca can be identified –

• A single lesion on the hands or feet
• A collection of lesions, resembling a mosaic type pattern over the feet or toes
• An array of scattered ‘puncture like’ lesions over the sole of the foot

HOW DO YOU CATCH VERRUCAS?

Children and young adults are most at risk, usually from contact with moist changing room floors, where skin touches these surfaces.  A small microscopic lesion will encourage viruses to enter.  There can be an incubation period of up to 2 years before the verruca appears.

VERRUCA TREATMENT

There is not a particular cure for a verruca, different methods have been tried and tested by many practitioners over the years –

•  Physical Methods – paring, freezing, excision, dermabrasion
•  Chemical Methods – tea tree oil, silver nitrate, salicylic acid
•  Psychological Methods – beliefs, folk-lore, homeopathy

Some patients find after using a particular method,  that their verruca disappears within weeks, whilst many others suffer the problem for months or even years.  It’s a matter of trial and error invariably, together with ongoing advice from your foot health practitioner.