Verruca is a viral infection caused by the Human Papilloma virus family (HPV). HPV infects the epithelial basal layer of the skin following trauma. Micro trauma gives the virus a portal of entry that is not visible to the human eye. Verrucas are usually transmitted in the communal environments such as swimming pools and changing rooms. Anyone can get verrucas but it is mostly common in children. Verruca can be very stubborn and although we offer various treatments we can not tell what treatment specifically will get rid of it or how long it would take.
Cryotherapy works by destructing the skin cells through a process of freezing. This will trigger an immune reaction due to the inflammation produced. The verruca is initially debrided and then frozen multiple times using liquid nitrogen. The procedure is slightly uncomfortable. For the best outcome the podiatrist advises between 1-6 sessions. In some cases, blood blisters can occur as a side effect.
Verruca needling is a procedure which is performed under local anaesthetic. The goal of the treatment is to penetrate the full thickness of the verruca ( the base of the capsule into the subcutaneous tissue) using a sterile needle. The puncturing will continue until there is no resistance felt from the epidermis and the entire lesion is perforated. The puncturing will result in the body’s immune response helping to get rid of the verruca. If the patient presents with multiple plantar warts the largest and the oldest lesion is treated. Usually only one treatment is required and results to occur can take up to 6 months. This procedure is not painful but the administration of local anaesthetic can be uncomfortable depending on the location of the lesion. There are no side effects and patient is required to attend in 1 week time for debridement of the lesion. Patient is then reviewed in 3 months.
Swift microwave therapy is the new state of the art treatment for verrucas. A controlled dose of microwaves is applied to the lesion which creates a rapid increase in water molecules collisions to damage the cell and to create an immune response. For the best outcome, we advise 3 treatments every 4 weeks and a follow up review 12 weeks after the last treatment.
The advantage of this therapy is that it is quickly administered and no continued dressing is required. The patient may feel pain during treatment, however it only lasts several seconds at a time. It may cause some discomfort post treatment but it is short-lived.
