Articles

What is verruca removal?

Verrucas also referred to as plantar warts, are extremely common especially amongst children and young adults. A foot verruca is usually harmless but can cause a degree of itching and pain when pressure is applied by walking.

Tagged: Body & Breast

What is verruca removal?

Verrucas also referred to as plantar warts, are extremely common especially amongst children and young adults. A foot verruca is usually harmless but can cause a degree of itching and pain when pressure is applied by walking. 

The desire for verruca removal often comes about due to the levels of discomfort experienced, but also due to the embarrassment that is associated with a verruca’s presence. 

It is common for people to have questions relating to foot verrucas such as “What does an early-stage foot verruca look like?” and most commonly “How do you remove a foot verruca?”. We’d like to cover some of these questions so that you are more informed about foot verrucas and have an awareness of the options that are available for verruca removal.

What causes verrucas?

In common with other types of wart, a foot verruca is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). A verruca is the result of your skin being infected by HPV and the majority of people experience one at some point in their lives. The virus is contagious and can be transferred to others via skin to skin contact as well as walking on floors that have traces of the virus present. It is also possible to infect yourself by scratching a wart or existing foot verruca: scratching allows particles to travel away from the original site and spreads the infection to other areas of your skin. 

Although HPV is contagious it is more easily transmitted when skin is either wet or damaged. This is why there is a high association between swimming pools, communal showers, and foot verrucas. 

A state of the art, award winning clinic.

Founded in 2004 by world renowned plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, we now work with over 100 leading consultants and successfully treat over 20,000 patients each year. We have been winning industry awards since inception.

About Us

Best in Class Facilities

All of our treatments take place at our beautiful boutique premises in Chelsea. We have six consulting rooms and five operating rooms, as well as a dedicated pre and post-operative suite, and a full team of specialist nursing staff.

Our Clinic

A Strong Tradition of Innovation

We were founded in 2004 by world renown plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, best known for his pioneering work in the area of liposuction, lasers and microvascular surgery. We continue to collaborate with pioneers in our field.

Our History

At Home in Sloane Street, London

We are proud that our state of the art award-winning clinic is located in one of the best neighbourhoods in the country

Welcome to Sloane Street

Clinics Nationwide

We offer surgical consultations in London, Birmingham, Chelmsford and Bristol, and attract international patients from all corners of the globe such as as the USA, the Middle East and Europe.

Get in Touch

How do I remove my verruca?

When considering how to remove a verruca, the most commonly used methods involve the use of salicylic acid or cryotherapy (freezing). Often a foot verruca will go away on its own but this can take months or even years. When they become bothersome or painful, people are not always prepared to wait and so will seek out removal options such as:

These come in the form of gels, creams, and medicated plasters. They are available over the counter at pharmacies and contain salicylic acid. This works by targeting the hard outer layers of your foot verruca, but the best results are seen by soaking your foot first and then using an emery board or pumice stone to remove excess skin. 

This method of verruca removal involves freezing with the use of liquid nitrogen. A GP can carry out this procedure but it is now rare for the NHS to fund it. This means that an appointment at a private clinic is required. There are over the counter alternatives but as these do not contain liquid nitrogen, the temperatures are not as low and so are not usually as effective.

In cases where a foot verruca is particularly bothersome and is not responding to treatment, it may be necessary to see a dermatologist. Treatments available include scraping with a tool called a curette and laser treatment which destroys the tiny blood vessels in a verruca. 

How to remove a verruca root

One of the most common queries that people have is how to remove a verruca root and this comes about due to a common misconception about foot verrucas. On some verrucas, there are tiny, what appear to be black, spots that are visible. It is often thought that these are the roots of the verruca and that by ‘digging’ them out, you can remove a verruca. The truth is that this is not the case.

A foot verruca is caused by HPV which is a virus that infects the skin. When a verruca forms, it changes the appearance of the skin at the site of infection but there is no root. The visible black spots are generally accepted to be the ends of broken capillaries. 

What is the best verruca removal treatment?

As if often the case with medical conditions, the answer to what is the best verruca removal treatment is that it depends. It is possible that over the counter treatments containing salicylic acid will be effective enough to remove a foot verruca. When such remedies are ineffective and a verruca is somewhat stubborn and will not go it is time to consult a specialist.

Our team of expert dermatologists assess every patient as an individual and any recommended treatments will be tailored to their needs.

Words from our clients:


What are the various verruca treatments available?

When considering how to remove a verruca and the types of treatments that are available, broadly these fall into 4 categories: self-help, over the counter medications, treatment by a doctor, and referral to a specialist.

Some options can be tried to remove a verruca that does not require any medication. These include daily filing and occlusion. Daily filing causes inflammation and triggers your immune system to fight the infection. Occlusion involves covering a verruca with duct tape for 7 days. The verruca is uncovered and filed on the 7th day and then the process starts again. 

These methods of verruca removal are available at the majority of pharmacies. They take the form of gels, creams, or medicated plasters that are applied directly to a foot verruca. The active ingredient in these options is salicylic acid. Other options allow verrucas to be frozen by applying a cold liquid to the infected area. 

A doctor can offer cryotherapy to freeze a foot verruca. This is similar to the over the counter method however, as liquid nitrogen is used the temperature is much lower and so the treatment is more effective. This treatment is rarely funded by the NHS and so requires attendance at a private clinic.

A dermatologist specialises in skin conditions and is able to assist with verruca removal. Options available include stronger medications, a scraping technique, and also laser treatment. 

What does a verruca look like on the foot?

After a person has been infected with HPV, it can take a considerable amount of time before a foot verruca appears. An early-stage foot verruca may just appear as a small lump to start with, but its appearance will begin to change.

When considering the question “What does a verruca look like on the foot?”, a foot verruca often has the appearance of a cauliflower. They can range in size from a few millimetres up to a centimetre. Although these start as a lump, due to weight-bearing caused by walking, they often transform to appearing flat with a rough and crumbly surface. 

How do I prevent verrucas?

Verrucas are extremely common and affect 1 in 3 people. There are, however, certain steps that you can take to minimise the risk of being infected and developing one:

  • Keep yourself fit and healthy as you are more likely to become infected if your immune system is weakened
  • Cover up cuts and scratches on the feet as these will allow HPV to enter more easily
  • Avoid being barefoot in public areas
  • Keep your feet dry as the virus is more prevalent when skin is wet

Treatments mentioned in this article

We are experts in a wide range of Andrology treatments, in both elective and medical conditions.

View Treatment

There is a growing demand for cosmetic surgery in the UK and the foot is no exception.

View Treatment

We are experts in a wide range of hand problems, in both elective and traumatic conditions.

View Treatment

Fat transfer breast augmentation, or a ‘natural breast augmentation’, or 'fat transfer to breast', is a surgical procedure designed to increase the volume of the breast using fat grafting techniques.

View Treatment

A hernia is when an internal part of the body, such as the intestine, bowel or muscle, pushes through a weakness in the muscle wall or surrounding tissue.

View Treatment

An umbilicoplasty, also known as belly button surgery, is a surgical procedure which aims to change the appearance of your belly button, making it more aesthetically pleasing.

View Treatment

A hoodectomy, also known as a clitoral hood reduction, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the size of the clitoral hood.

View Treatment

Mons pubis reduction surgery, also known as monsplasty, is an invasive medical procedure to remove the excess skin and fatty tissue from the fatty pad sitting on top of the pubic bone. This fatty pad is known as the mons pubis.

View Treatment

Liposuction can provide an efficient solution for the removal of unwanted fat from specific areas of the body, leaving a more defined shape.

View Treatment

MTF top surgery is a breast augmentation procedure which is performed as part of male to female gender reassignment surgery.

View Treatment


Trustpilot

Laurel Wreath for Awards

2023

Aesthetic Awards

Highly Commended Best Clinic in London

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2021

Aesthetics Awards

Highly Commended

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2021

My Face My Body

Best Clinic Winner

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2020

My Face My Body

Best Clinic Winner

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2019

My Face My Body

Winner

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2018

My Face My Body

Highly Commended

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2018

Aesthetics Awards

Highly Commended

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2017

Aesthetics Awards

Winner

Laurel Wreath for Awards

0207 901 8500

Get in touch