What to do About a Verruca?

What to do About a Verruca?

While warts can appear anywhere on the body, if you notice one on the bottom of your feet then you have what’s called a verruca (also known as a plantarVerruca wart). Most people will get a wart at some point during their lifetime, so it isn’t something you should be worried about. Warts are the result of the human papilloma virus (HPV). Sure, having a plantar wart on the sole of your foot may be annoying but it will typically go away all on its own.

What does a verruca look like?

You may not even notice that you have a verruca, a thick, slightly raised growth or lump that looks a bit like a callus; however, since they do develop on the soles of the feet you may find that they are rather uncomfortable or even painful sometimes, especially when wearing shoes or during physical activity.

How long will it take for this wart to go away?

While warts can often be left alone to run their course, it can take several years for the verruca to completely go away. In the meantime, you may find that the verruca has become more painful and too annoying to put up with or to wait for it to go away. If this is the case, then it’s time to visit a podiatrist.

What can a podiatrist do?

There are several treatment options that a foot doctor may recommend for removing your verruca. There are certain creams and medications that contain active ingredients like salicylic acid, which can remove the outer layers of the wart to help shed it faster. While you can find some of these products over-the-counter, if you want to weigh your treatment options then talking to a podiatrist is always a good option. If you have diabetes or nerve damage in your feet you’ll want to immediately turn to a foot care specialist if you have a verruca and want to have it removed.

Another way to treat a verruca is through cryotherapy, in which we will freeze the wart with liquid nitrogen. While this might not be the best option for children, as freezing the wart can be uncomfortable, it only takes a few seconds to treat the wart. Once the wart has undergone cryotherapy it will scab over before falling off. Sometimes one cryotherapy session is all that’s needed while others may require several treatments to fully treat the wart. If in doubt, turn to your foot care specialist to treat your verruca properly.