Plantar Warts
Verruca, or warts as they are commonly known, are caused by a viral infection - the human papilloma virus (HPV). Warts can occur anywhere on your body. They are commonly picked up in communal areas such as swimming pools, or gym showers. To reduce the likelihood of contracting or transmitting a wart, we advise you to always wear thongs on your feet in wet areas such as public showers and walkways.
The term plantar wart refers to the warts that appear on the plantar surface (soles) of your feet. They are usually hard areas of skin that can have a “cauliflower “ appearance, which may have small dark dots scattered through them. They may be raised, or flat, depending on the location, and can become painful due to increased pressure when walking.
You can contract warts at any age, but they are commonly seen in children. Occasionally, warts can go away without treatment, but they also can grow rapidly and spread to other areas of your foot and body.
Treatment options may include over the counter treatments, clinic based acid treatments, or referral for surgical techniques depending on the severity and duration of the infection.
Our Podiatrists will be able to help you choose the most appropriate treatment for you, considering factors including how long you have had the problem for, how severe it is and your overall health status.
If you have a particularly stubborn wart, or a large wart that you would like to be gone as soon as possible, we offer Verruca Needling - a multi-puncture technique to stimulate the immune response rapidly. This technique is very effective with complete resolution in 4-8 weeks. If you are interested in this service, read the information at the above link and make an appointment! Your podiatrist will assess your suitability for the procedure before proceeding.