What is a Verruca?
A verruca, or verrucae are plantar warts that commonly occur on the soles of the feet or around the toe area. They are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is contagious through direct person-to-person contact. The HPV virus thrives in moist, damp environments such as swimming pools, changing room floors and showers. It is possible to contract a verruca simply by walking across the same floor as someone with a verrucae, especially if you a cut or scratch on your foot. or verrucae is a form of plantar wart that grows on the soles of your feet or high pressure areas.
Some symptoms of verruca are:
- can be rough, grainy, flat, round, finger-like or cauliflower-like
- can be skin coloured, or may be mildly darker
- appear as a single wart or appear in cluster with many of them together
- may have an overlying callus
- may be itchy or painful, especially verrucas (which are found on the soles of your feet).
Verrucae are commonly seen in children and young adults, however, anyone can develop a verrucae.
The most common appearance of a verruca is a small cauliflower type growth, with tiny black dots on the sole of your foot or around your toes. They are generally harmless but can be uncomfortable and painful, especially if they develop on a weight bearing part of your foot.
Treatments for verrucae vary from conservative treatment using acid-based or silver nitrate solutions to dry needling and surgical excision. Your podiatrist will discuss the best treatment option for you.
Verruca and Wart Dry Needling/Surgery
Dry needling is a surgical procedure done under local anaesthetic, which involves the use of a fine needle to puncture the verrucae multiple times.
Our immune system is more active in the deeper layers of our skin (dermis). Thus, the goal with dry needling is to implant the infected cells into the dermis, thereby stimulating an immune response and destruction of the virus.