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Verruca: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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Condition

Verruca

A verruca is a common yet frequently misunderstood foot condition. Many patients tolerate them for months or years, attempting self-treatment with limited success, before seeking a professional opinion. Others are unsure whether their skin lesion is actually a verruca, a corn, or something else entirely. At West Bridgford Podiatry, our HCPC-registered clinical team provides accurate diagnosis, clear guidance, and a range of proven treatment options for patients living with verrucae across Nottingham and the surrounding Nottinghamshire area.

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Man checks wart at home after cauterizing it with celandine on foot. Verrucas papilloma callus virus
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Verruca

A verruca, also known as a plantar wart, is a growth on the skin of the foot caused by infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The virus infects the epidermis, the outer layer of skin, stimulating abnormal cell growth that produces the characteristic rough, raised surface. The small black dots visible within a verruca are the ends of tiny blood vessels that have grown into the infected tissue, a feature that helps to distinguish verrucae from other plantar lesions such as corns.

The HPV virus spreads most readily in warm, moist communal environments such as swimming pool changing rooms, gym showers, and sports changing areas. It can be contracted by walking across the same floor as an infected person, particularly where small cuts or abrasions are present on the skin.

Common features that may indicate a verruca include:

  • A small, rough, raised growth on the sole of the foot or around the toes
  • Tiny black dots within the surface (punctate haemorrhages from capillary blood vessels)
  • Pain when the area is pinched from the sides, rather than pressed directly from above
  • A disruption of the normal skin ridge pattern over the growth
  • Hard skin forming over the surface, making the growth appear smoother
  • A cluster of small warts merging into a larger plaque, known as a mosaic verruca

The body’s immune system will often clear the HPV infection naturally over time. This process takes an average of six months in children and up to two years or longer in adults. Treatment is most appropriate when:

  • The verruca is painful, particularly on a weight-bearing area of the foot
  • It is growing in size or spreading to form a cluster
  • It is causing concern about transmission to others in the household
  • Over-the-counter treatments have been tried without success over a sustained period

At West Bridgford Podiatry, we offer three professionally applied treatment options as part of our Verruca Treatment service:

  • Verrutop: destroys the viral protein and desiccates the wart tissue without burning or freezing. Well tolerated by children and adults. A maximum of five applications at two to three week intervals, followed by a twelve-week review period.
  • Silver Nitrate: a clinically stronger acid-based treatment applied after debridement of overlying callus.
  • Cryotherapy: medical-grade freezing therapy using equipment considerably more effective than pharmacy alternatives.

Your clinician will discuss which approach is most appropriate for your verruca before any treatment begins.

7 Musters Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7PP. Close to Trent Bridge, with local bus links and free on-site parking front and rear. Open Monday to Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm and alternate Saturdays 8:00am to 1:00pm.

Faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a verruca the same as a wart?

Verrucae are plantar warts: HPV-caused growths occurring specifically on the sole of the foot. The term wart is used for HPV growths on any part of the body, whilst verruca refers specifically to plantar lesions.

The strains of HPV that cause verrucae predominantly affect the plantar skin. Whilst the virus can spread to adjacent foot areas or to household members via shared surfaces, it does not typically cause warts on other body regions.

Yes, but please cover the verruca with a waterproof plaster during exercise and in communal areas to limit the risk of spreading the virus. Avoid going barefoot in changing rooms and around swimming pools.

Signs of improvement include a reduction in the size of the growth, loss of the black dots indicating blood vessel regression, and the return of the normal skin ridge pattern. Your clinician will assess progress formally at each follow-up appointment.

Conditions

Conditions We Care For

Young woman suffering from pain in foot on floor, closeup
Foot Pain

Foot pain is one of the most common reasons people seek podiatric care, and one of the most frequently underestimated in terms of its impact on everyday life. When your feet hurt, everything becomes harder: walking to work, keeping up with your children, enjoying a weekend walk, or simply getting through a busy day on your feet. At West Bridgford Podiatry, our experienced team of HCPC-registered Podiatrists and Foot Health Practitioners is equipped to assess, diagnose, and treat the full breadth of foot pain presentations, from simple skin conditions to complex biomechanical problems.

Senior Asian man holding his painful ankle
Ankle Pain

The ankle is one of the most mechanically loaded joints in the body, bearing the full force of your body weight with every step you take. When ankle pain develops, its impact on daily life can be swift and significant, affecting your ability to walk comfortably, exercise, work, and maintain your independence. At West Bridgford Podiatry, Hassan Ebrahim Isat combines thorough clinical assessment with computerised gait analysis to identify the precise mechanical and structural factors contributing to your ankle pain and build an effective, lasting treatment plan.

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Toe Pain

The toes may be small, but the role they play in walking, balance, and propulsion is considerable. Pain in any of the toes can quickly disrupt your gait, limit your footwear choices, and make even a short walk uncomfortable. When toe pain is left unaddressed, compensatory walking patterns can create secondary strain in the foot, ankle, and knee, turning what began as a localised complaint into a more widespread problem. At West Bridgford Podiatry, our HCPC-registered clinical team offers thorough assessment and effective treatment for all causes of toe pain in patients across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

symptom pain ankle of men.
Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common and most painful foot conditions we see at West Bridgford Podiatry. The stabbing heel pain on taking those first steps in the morning, the ache that builds through a long day on your feet, the frustration of a condition that seems to persist no matter what you try: these are experiences shared by many of our patients. Plantar fasciitis rarely resolves quickly without addressing its underlying causes, and that is precisely where expert podiatric assessment makes the difference. Hassan Ebrahim Isat combines clinical expertise with computerised gait analysis to identify what is driving your plantar fasciitis and build a treatment plan that actually works.

Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is a painful and persistent condition that affects the largest tendon in the human body. Whether you are a recreational runner dealing with frustrating heel pain, an active professional whose daily commute has become an ordeal, or an athlete unable to train as you would like, Achilles tendon pain can have a profound effect on your quality of life. At West Bridgford Podiatry, Hassan Ebrahim Isat provides expert biomechanical assessment and targeted podiatric management for Achilles tendinopathy, helping patients across West Bridgford, Nottingham, and the wider Nottinghamshire area return to the activities they value most.

Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s Neuroma

If you have been experiencing a burning, shooting, or tingling pain in the ball of your foot, a feeling of walking on a pebble, or numbness that radiates into your toes, Morton’s neuroma may be the cause. Despite its name, Morton’s neuroma is not a tumour. It is a thickening of the nerve tissue between the metatarsal heads caused by repetitive compression and irritation. The condition can be significantly limiting, but with the right clinical assessment and targeted conservative management, most patients achieve meaningful relief without the need for surgery. At West Bridgford Podiatry, Hassan Ebrahim Isat provides expert assessment and evidence-informed treatment for Morton’s neuroma.

Fungal-Nail-Infection
Fungal Nail Infections

Fungal nail infections, known clinically as onychomycosis, are among the most common nail conditions encountered in podiatry practice. Affecting approximately one in ten people at some point in their lives, they cause progressive changes to the appearance and structure of the nail that can cause embarrassment, discomfort, and difficulty with footwear. At West Bridgford Podiatry, our experienced clinical team provides accurate assessment and effective management for fungal nail infections, helping patients across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to restore their nail health with confidence.

Ingrowing Toenails

Few foot conditions cause as much immediate, persistent pain as an ingrown toenail. When the nail edge digs into the soft tissue of the nail fold, even the lightest touch can be agonising, and the risk of infection adds a further layer of concern. At West Bridgford Podiatry, we offer both conservative management for early-stage cases and surgical treatment for more established or recurrent ingrown toenails, providing effective relief and lasting outcomes for patients across Nottingham and the wider Nottinghamshire area. You do not need a GP referral: you can book directly with our clinic.

Corn & Callus

Corns and callus are two of the most common foot complaints that bring patients through our doors at West Bridgford Podiatry. Whilst both involve areas of thickened skin, they differ in their structure, location, and the level of discomfort they cause, and crucially, they are often a symptom of an underlying pressure problem rather than isolated conditions in their own right. At West Bridgford Podiatry, our HCPC-registered Podiatrists and Foot Health Practitioners provide thorough, precise corn and callus treatment alongside an assessment of the causative factors, giving you the best possible chance of long-term relief.