Verrucas can be unsightly, painful and embarrassing, so when one appears, finding the best treatment is top of most people’s lists. Which is the best verruca treatment?
What is a verruca?
Warts are small lumps on the skin which are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). A wart on the sole of your foot is called a verruca. They might have tiny black dots in the centre of them, and can be painful to stand on. Sometimes, a cluster of verrucas can fuse together – these are known as mosaic warts.
Why do verrucas appear?
Most people will get a wart or a verruca at some point in their lives. They appear following contact with the HPV virus; this could be from person to person or through contact with floors and surfaces which have been contaminated by the virus. Some people may be more susceptible to verrucas than others. You are more likely to get a verruca if your skin is wet or damaged – which is why so many seem to arise from visits to the swimming pool.
What verruca treatments are available?
There are several treatments available for verrucas, which have varying degrees of success.
One of the most exciting new treatments is Swift Microwave Treatment – this is a new technology which has success rates of 83% (even on the most stubborn verrucas!). It works by delivering microwave energy through a special probe to the surface of the skin. The microwaves then generate heat in the verruca. It is an exceptionally quick treatment and, although it can be painful at the time, lasts for only a few seconds. More than one session may be required (three four-weekly sessions are recommended). No anaesthetic or dressings are required.
Other treatments include verruca needling. This has a 70% success rate and is delivered under local anaesthetic. It works by puncturing the verruca with a sterile needle many times. This exposes the viral particles to the body’s immune system, which can usually fight the virus. Verruca needling usually does not require multiple treatments, but the site can be painful for a few days.
Laser therapy treatment is another viable treatment and is particularly effective for treating children. It is pain free, However, its success rate is lower.
There are other treatments such as salicylic acid (though studies have found the success rate to be around 14% after 12 weeks of treatment) and cryotherapy (freezing) – though this painful.
Which verruca treatment is best?
Of course, everyone is different but the new and exciting therapies are the ones to look out for. Here at Northwich Foot Clinic, we are proud to be one of the few clinics offering Swift Microwave Therapy to treat verrucas. We also provide verruca needling and low level laser therapy. These are the fastest and most efficient treatments for verrucas, and you can contact us to book your appointment today.
