Eur J Dermatol Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
For details see our conditions. In this series. In this series: Seborrhoeic Warts. In this series Seborrhoeic Warts. In this article What are warts and verrucas? Who gets warts and verrucas and are they harmful? Are warts contagious? To treat or not to treat? What are the treatment options? Other treatment options What about swimming? Warts and Verrucas In this article What are warts and verrucas? What are warts and verrucas? Warts are small rough lumps on the skin.
They are caused by a virus human papillomavirus which causes a reaction in the skin. Warts can occur anywhere on the body but occur most commonly on hands and feet. They range in size from 1 mm to over 1 cm. Sometimes only one or two warts develop. Sometimes several occur in the same area of skin. The shape and size of warts vary and they are sometimes classed by how they look. Examples are: Common warts. Plane flat warts. Filiform finger-like warts. Mosaic warts - when several warts join together.
Verrucas are warts on the soles of the feet. They are the same as warts on any other part of the body. However, they may look flatter, as they tend to get trodden in. Suffer from dermatitis? Book a private appointment with a local pharmacist today to discover treatment options Book now. Wart and Verruca Treatment Options Each treatment option for warts and verrucas has various benefits, risks and consequences.
View the Wart and Verrucas Decision Aid. Next article Seborrhoeic Warts. Are you protected against flu? Further reading and references. Wart and verruca treatment options. Verrucas are not just itchy and uncomfortable; they can be quite embarrassing as well. According to the British Skin Foundation BSF , around 65 percent of verrucas or warts will disappear within two years. Although there is a chance that this skin infection will go away with time, many like to speed up the process.
Before we discuss the best verruca treatment to get rid of a verruca fast and safely, it is vital to be familiar with the basics. Verrucas are warts that grow on feet. They are a viral skin infection that appears on the outermost layer of the skin.
Suppose a verruca appears on the sole of your feet. In that case, it can be excruciating as it is a central weight-bearing area of the body. Verrucas start off looking like cauliflower, but they will quickly flatten up because of your body weight pressure. Warts generally do not cause any symptoms. They may be a little uncomfortable, and you might worry about how you look. On the other hand, Verrucas can cause pain, mainly when they are grown on the sole of your feet or close to your nail beds.
Verrucas are contagious. They can quickly spread from person to person, either through direct contact or through contact with contaminated surfaces. While they are contagious, the chances of catching them are relatively low. Many people get one at some point in their lives. A wart on the sole of your foot is called a verruca.
There are four main types of wart caused by human papilloma virus HPV. They look different but are all essentially caused the same way.
These are firm, round, raised growths with a rough surface — they can look like a very small cauliflower. This type of wart is most commonly found on your hands or knees. Verrucas are warts on the soles of your feet. They may have tiny black dots in the centre — these are where blood has clotted in tiny blood vessels on the surface of your skin. They may be painful when you put weight on them. Verrucas tend to look quite flat because of the pressure put on them.
Sometimes, if you have clusters of verrucas, they can fuse together. These are called mosaic warts. Plane warts are round, smooth and slightly raised, with a flat top. They can be slightly brown, greyish-yellow or skin-coloured. Genital warts are caused by different types of HPV from the other types of wart. Genital warts are treated differently from other types of wart.
Sometimes, common warts may crack and bleed. Warts and verrucas generally go away by themselves. Speak to your pharmacist if they get worse or become painful. Warts and verrucas are usually harmless and go away by themselves without treatment. In children, about half go away within a year, and about two-thirds disappear within two years. It may take longer for warts and verrucas to clear up for adults — in some people it can take five to 10 years. Often, leaving warts is the best option, especially for children, as some treatments can be time-consuming, painful and cause side-effects.
If you want to try over-the-counter treatments for a wart or verruca, you can ask your pharmacist for advice.
For more information, see our section on treatment. There are some circumstances when you should see your GP. But if your wart or verruca is bothering you, you might decide to give treatment a try. The most commonly used treatments for warts and verrucas removal are salicylic acid and cryotherapy freezing. There are many creams, gels and medicated plasters for treating warts and verrucas.
You can buy these over-the-counter at a pharmacy. Many of them contain an ingredient called salicylic acid. This is a chemical that helps to soften the hard, outer layer of your wart or verruca.
It has been shown to have a modest beneficial effect in helping to get rid of warts and verrucas. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before using it if you have diabetes and are prone to ulcers or have nerve damage. Always carefully follow the instructions that come with your wart and verruca treatment and ask your pharmacist if you need advice. Try to get as little as possible of the treatment on the surrounding area because it can cause irritation to healthy skin.
Other treatments include minor surgery and treatment with laser or light. Warts and verrucas are caused by a virus. They can be spread to other people from contaminated surfaces or through close skin contact. You're more likely to spread a wart or verruca if your skin is wet or damaged.
It can take months for a wart or verruca to appear after contact with the virus. Page last reviewed: 14 October Next review due: 14 October
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