Posted on July 8th, 2024.

Feeling that nagging discomfort on the sole of your foot? It may be more than just a minor inconvenience. Verrucas, those pesky warts caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), can make every step a painful reminder. These warts often appear on high-pressure points like your heels or balls of the feet, finding their way into the skin through the tiniest cuts or abrasions.

This prompts rapid cell growth on the skin's outer layer, resulting in a rough, circular flat spot with tiny black specks - which are actually small blood vessels. They can exist solo or cluster into a mosaic verruca, causing even more discomfort due to their inconvenient locations. Walking or standing can become a painful ordeal.

Dealing with these nuisances can feel overwhelming, given the myriad of over-the-counter options like salicylic acid and cryotherapy kits. If you're searching for effective methods to safely remove verrucas and find relief from their discomfort, you're in the right place. In this article, we will explore various treatments and techniques to help you get rid of verrucas for good.

Understanding Verrucas

Understanding verrucas involves recognising that they are essentially warts that appear on the soles of your feet, often under pressure points such as heels or balls of the feet. These skin growths are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infiltrates the skin through small cuts or abrasions. As a result, the virus prompts rapid cell growth on the outer layer of the skin, forming a mass that is typically coarse and slightly raised.

Symptoms include a circular flat spot with a rough appearance, often dotted with tiny black specks which are actually small blood vessels. In addition, cauliflower-like formations might be felt, and in more severe cases, they can cause a thicker callus to form as the foot tries to protect itself.

How Do Doctors Remove Verrucas?

The key to successful treatment of verrucas lies in the expertise of the practitioner. By visiting a podiatrist, you can benefit from their expert touch. These professionals have dedicated their careers to understanding foot health and ensuring treatments not only target the verruca, but also maintain the integrity of the surrounding tissue.

They use their knowledge to create personalized treatment plans, taking into consideration factors such as verruca duration, size, and exact location. This personalized approach often results in fewer treatment sessions and a higher chance of a permanent solution.

Cryotherapy and Cryosurgery

When discussing cryotherapy for warts, it’s important to understand the specific mechanics involved. Cryotherapy, also known as verruca-freeze treatments, employs liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart tissue. The process itself is relatively straightforward yet highly effective. During the procedure, the liquid nitrogen is applied directly to the verruca using a spray or a cotton swab.

The extreme cold, typically around -196°C, causes the water in the skin cells to freeze and expand, leading to cellular destruction. While the application might sting or produce a cold, burning sensation, this discomfort is usually temporary and well-tolerated. Following the treatment, a blister forms under the verruca within a few hours. Over the course of a week or so, the blister will dry up, and the dead skin will fall off naturally.

The primary benefit of cryotherapy is its ability to target the verruca precisely, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. However, multiple sessions may be necessary to achieve complete verruca removal, especially for more persistent warts. This staged approach allows for the careful monitoring of progress and adjustments as needed, enhancing the overall success rate.

In more severe cases or when dealing with particularly stubborn verrucas, cryosurgery for warts presents an advanced option. Cryosurgery is akin to cryotherapy but involves a slightly different technique and longer application times or multiple freeze-thaw cycles, which can penetrate deeper into the skin layers.

This method offers a robust approach to verruca treatment, especially when prior interventions have failed. Understandably, you might feel apprehensive about cryosurgery, but rest assured, the procedure is designed to be as comfortable as possible. During cryosurgery, local anesthesia may be administered to numb the area, further reducing any discomfort.

The healthcare provider will then use a specialized device to apply the liquid nitrogen more precisely and intensely. The controlled freezing destroys the infected tissue, leading to the gradual shedding of the verruca. The efficacy of cryosurgery is comparable to that of cryotherapy but tends to yield faster and often more complete results. Of course, with any medical procedure, there are potential pros and cons to consider. The primary benefits include a high success rate and a reduced need for repeat treatments. Additionally, cryosurgery can be particularly beneficial for larger verrucas or those that have resisted other treatments. On the downside, the recovery period can involve more pronounced blistering, and there's a slightly higher risk of scarring. Proper aftercare, such as keeping the area clean and protected, is crucial to mitigate these risks and promote healing.

Salicylic Acid and Laser Therapy

Salicylic acid wart removal is a tried-and-true method for people seeking a non-invasive option to deal with stubborn verrucas. This treatment leverages the keratolytic properties of salicylic acid, an agent that helps dissolve the protein (keratin) that makes up the wart and the thickened skin surrounding it.

Available in various forms such as gels, pads, and liquid solutions, salicylic acid treatment requires consistency and patience. You’ll need to apply the product daily to the affected area, ideally after soaking your foot in warm water for about 10 minutes to soften the skin. Patiently, over the course of several weeks, the acid will gradually break down the verruca, layer by layer.

As this process targets the wart internally, you may notice some peeling or mild irritation, which is a sign the treatment is working. It's crucial to keep the surrounding skin protected by applying a layer of petroleum jelly or using a corn plaster with a hole cut out for the verruca, minimising exposure and protecting healthy skin.

Given its accessibility as an over-the-counter treatment, salicylic acid is often the first line of defence against verrucas and is suitable for most people, including children and those with sensitive skin. However, due to its prolonged duration, typically several weeks to months, those looking for a quicker resolution might consider alternative options.

For stubborn or multiple verrucas, verruca removal laser therapy presents a highly efficient solution. This method uses a focused laser beam to precisely target and cauterise the blood vessels supplying the verruca. By cutting off the blood supply, the wart tissue dies, and the verruca falls off naturally.

The procedure itself is relatively quick, normally requiring just one or a few sessions depending on the size and persistence of the verruca. Patients might feel a slight tingling or warming sensation as the laser is applied, but this is generally well-tolerated, and local anaesthesia is available to numb the area if necessary. Post-treatment, the affected site might be slightly tender or swollen, but this is temporary and usually resolves within a few days. The high success rate of laser therapy, often between 80-90%, makes it an excellent option, especially for warts that have resisted other treatments including salicylic acid.

Surgical Removal

Surgical removal of verrucas offers a direct and effective approach that often surpasses other methods in terms of efficacy and speed. This technique involves physically excising the verruca, which can provide immediate relief and a higher success rate, especially for persistent or large warts that have not responded to other treatments.

During the procedure, a local anesthetic is applied to numb the area, ensuring the patient is comfortable. The surgeon then uses a scalpel or curette to remove the verruca completely. This method is particularly advantageous because it allows for the entire verruca, including its roots, to be removed in one session. This reduces the likelihood of recurrence and ensures that the virus is thoroughly eradicated.

One significant benefit of surgical removal is the precision with which the verruca can be targeted. This minimizes damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and promotes faster healing. Additionally, for those suffering from severe pain due to verrucas, surgical removal can provide almost immediate relief, allowing them to return to their normal activities without the prolonged discomfort associated with other treatments.

While surgical removal may involve a recovery period and careful aftercare to prevent infection, its effectiveness and efficiency make it a preferred choice for many patients dealing with stubborn verrucas. Consulting with a specialist to discuss this option can provide a tailored solution that addresses both the symptoms and the root cause of the problem, leading to a more satisfactory and long-lasting outcome.

Wrapping Up

Addressing verrucas with a method that ensures safety and effectiveness is paramount. When your everyday comfort and foot health are at stake, it’s clear that opting for professional treatment provides not just tranquility but tangible results.

At The Verruca Clinic, we tailor our solutions to fit the unique needs of each patient, offering a variety of treatments including our full thickness surgical procedure, supported by years of specialist expertise.

By choosing our specialized services, you’re not only investing in a solution but also in long-term relief and health. Whether it’s cryotherapy, laser treatment, or any of our other professional offerings, our approach is designed to maximize success rates, minimize discomfort, and ensure a swift recovery. Imagine walking pain-free, unhampered by the distress of verrucas, and returning to your daily activities with ease and confidence.

Don’t let verrucas dictate your comfort or lifestyle. Experience the highest success rate in verruca removal with our full thickness surgical procedure—book your consultation today. Reach us at 1206 484 185 or email info@footcliniclondon.co.uk. Your journey to healthier feet starts here, with expert care and personalised treatment options.

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