{"id":2445,"date":"2023-07-26T10:26:24","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T10:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/?p=2445"},"modified":"2023-07-26T10:26:26","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T10:26:26","slug":"warts-and-verrucas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/warts-and-verrucas","title":{"rendered":"Warts and verrucas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"void(0)\">Introduction<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"void(0)\">Types<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"void(0)\">Causes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"void(0)\">Symptoms<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"void(0)\">Self-help<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"void(0)\">When to seek help<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"void(0)\">Treatment<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"void(0)\">Prevention<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expert reviewer,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finder.bupa.co.uk\/Consultant\/view\/25016\/dr_veronique_bataille?_its=JTdCJTIydmlkJTIyJTNBJTIyMWI2OTUwZWQtOWZjNC00ZTUxLWIxMzUtYzY3YmM5MjQ1ZTU3JTIyJTJDJTIyc3RhdGUlMjIlM0ElMjJybHR%2BMTY5MDM2NjYxOH5sYW5kfjJfNjk1OTlfZGlyZWN0XzNjNGY1MjA1OWFmMzgwZWIyZDNlOWM5ZTZhOTQxZGQ2JTIyJTJDJTIyc2l0ZUlkJTIyJTNBODY4MSU3RA%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr Veronique Bataille<\/a>, Consultant Dermatologist<br>Next review due, January 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Warts and verrucas are small, rough lumps or growths on your skin. A wart on the sole of your foot is sometimes called a verruca. Many people get a wart or verruca at some point in their lives. They\u2019re most common in school-age children and teenagers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bupa.co.uk\/~\/media\/Images\/HealthManagement\/Topics\/wart-427x240.jpg\" alt=\"An image showing warts on a person's finger\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of warts and verrucas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many different types of wart. There are differences in how they look and where they\u2019re normally found on your body. We list some of the most common types affecting the skin on your hands, feet and other parts of your body below. We don\u2019t include&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bupa.co.uk\/newsroom\/ourviews\/genital-warts\"><strong>genital warts<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;here. Genital warts are a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bupa.co.uk\/health-information\/sexual-reproductive-health\/sexually-transmitted-infections\"><strong>sexually transmitted infection<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;and are treated differently to the other types of warts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common wart<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These are firm, raised growths with a rough surface \u2013 they might look like a very small cauliflower. They\u2019re normally greyish-white or light brown, and usually a few millimetres across. This type of wart is most commonly found on your hands, fingers or knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Verruca (plantar wart)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Verrucas are warts on the soles of your feet. They may have tiny black dots in the centre \u2013 these are blood clots that have formed in tiny blood vessels. They may be painful, especially when you put weight on them. Sometimes, if you have clusters of verrucas, they can fuse together. These are called mosaic warts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plane wart (flat wart)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Plane warts are round, smooth and slightly raised, with a flat top. They can be slightly brown, greyish-yellow or skin-coloured. They\u2019re most common on your face and the backs of your hands. You will often have more than one at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Filiform wart<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These have a finger-like appearance, sometimes with a stalk. They\u2019re most commonly found on your face or neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Causes of warts and verrucas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Warts and verrucas are caused by infection of your skin with the human papillomavirus (HPV). They can spread from person to person by direct skin contact. But the risk of them spreading is usually fairly low. They\u2019re more likely to spread if you damage the top layer of the wart, as this exposes the virus more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can also spread indirectly, if you touch something, like a floor or surface that\u2019s been contaminated with HPV. But this is less common. You\u2019re more likely to get infected this way if your skin is damaged or wet, so infection is often linked to swimming pools and communal showers. You can also spread the infection from one part of your body to another, if you scratch or touch a wart or verruca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re more likely to develop warts and verrucas if you have a weakened immune system. This might be because you have a medical condition or are taking medicines that suppress your immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms of warts and verrucas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You might not like how your warts look, especially if they\u2019re on your hands or face. But apart from their appearance, warts and verrucas don\u2019t usually cause any symptoms. Verrucas can become uncomfortable or painful when you put weight on them. They may also bleed. Common warts around your nails can be painful too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Self-help for warts and verrucas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most warts and verrucas go away by themselves, so it\u2019s often best just to leave them alone, especially in children. But if your wart or verruca is bothering you, there are some things you can try at home to help get rid of it. It\u2019s important to be aware that these don\u2019t always work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Over-the-counter wart and verruca treatments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are treatments available for warts and verrucas that you can buy from a pharmacy. You apply these yourself at home. They don\u2019t always work. They can also be time-consuming, painful and cause side-effects. But if your wart or verruca is bothering you, you may want to consider trying them. See our, Treatment section for more information. You can ask a pharmacist if you need any advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to seek help for warts and verrucas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t usually need to see your GP about warts or verrucas. Warts and verrucas are usually harmless and go away by themselves without treatment. In children, about two-thirds disappear within two years. Some disappear much quicker than this \u2013 within a few months. It may take up to five to 10 years for warts and verrucas to clear up in adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some circumstances when you should see your GP, though. Always see your GP if you have a new growth on your skin and you\u2019re not sure what it is, especially if it\u2019s growing rapidly. Your doctor will usually be able to tell if it\u2019s a wart just by looking at it and examining it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also see your GP if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>the wart or verruca is painful or bleeding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>you have a wart on your face<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>you have lowered immunity \u2013 this can make it harder to get rid of the wart without treatment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>you have lots of warts covering a large area<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Treatment of warts and verrucas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some wart and verruca treatments you can buy over the counter from a pharmacy or shop. You apply these yourself at home. Other wart removal treatments are carried out by a GP or specialist doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wart and verruca creams and gels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many creams, gels and medicated plasters for treating warts and verrucas. You can buy these over the counter at a pharmacy. If you see a GP about a wart or verruca, they will usually suggest this first too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of these treatments contain an ingredient called salicylic acid. This is a chemical that helps to break down the skin on your wart or verruca. This triggers your immune system to clear the virus. It may provide some help in getting rid of warts or verrucas. If you decide to try a salicylic acid preparation, the following tips may help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t use salicylic acid preparations on your face or large areas of skin. This is because it can cause irritation and scarring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check with your pharmacist or doctor before using it if you have diabetes and are prone to ulcers or have nerve damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Before applying the treatment, soften the wart by soaking it in water and rubbing it with an emery board or pumice stone to remove any excess hard skin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try to get as little as possible of the treatment on the surrounding area because it can cause irritation to healthy skin. Protect the skin around the wart with petroleum jelly or soft paraffin. Avoid getting the treatment on broken skin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once the treatment has dried, it may help to cover the wart with a plaster or simple dressing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You may need to use the treatment daily for up to three months. If your wart is becoming very sore though, stop the treatment for a few days and then restart.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cryotherapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cryotherapy is the process of freezing your wart using liquid nitrogen so it falls off. Your doctor applies the liquid nitrogen to your wart using either a spray or a cotton bud. It takes between five and 30 seconds. You usually need to repeat the treatment every two to three weeks until the wart has gone, up to a maximum of six times. It sometimes leads to blistering or scarring of your skin and can be painful, so it is not recommended for younger children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s some evidence that cryotherapy may help to remove warts and verrucas, but it hasn\u2019t been shown to work any better than salicylic acid treatment. Not all GP practices carry out cryotherapy. And depending on where you live, it\u2019s not always available on the NHS for wart and verruca treatment. This means you may need to pay to have the treatment privately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are over-the-counter cryotherapy preparations that claim to remove warts and verrucas. These are a type of cryotherapy that you apply yourself at home. You can buy them at a pharmacy. They contain other gases that act to freeze the wart or verruca. However, there is very little evidence to support their use. They can\u2019t freeze at temperatures as low as liquid nitrogen, so they\u2019re unlikely to work as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specialist treatments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your GP may sometimes refer you to a dermatologist or specialist skin clinic for treatment. This might be if you have large areas of skin affected, warts on your face or a weakened immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dermatologist may suggest various different options for wart removal. These include stronger medications that you either take by mouth, apply to your skin or are injected into the wart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surgery and laser treatment aren\u2019t used very often for wart removal, as the warts can come back after these procedures. They can also be painful and leave a scar. If used, your doctor may recommend combining these with other treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prevention spread of warts and verrucas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a wart or verruca, taking the following measures may help to stop it spreading to other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t scratch or pick your wart or verruca as it\u2019s more likely to spread.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have warts on your fingers, don\u2019t bite your nails or suck your fingers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you use nail files or pumice stones on your wart or verruca, don\u2019t share these or use on other areas of your skin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid shaving in areas where you have warts, and disinfect your razor after every use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep your feet clean and dry. See a chiropodist or podiatrist if you find it difficult to do this. Change your socks every day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wear flip-flops in communal showers and changing rooms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cover your wart or verruca with a waterproof plaster when you go swimming. Swimming socks are not needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t share your towels, shoes or socks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no reason why you can\u2019t continue to take part in activities, such as sports or swimming, if you have a wart or verruca. But make sure you follow the advice above to avoid passing it on to other people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Expert reviewer,&nbsp;Dr Veronique Bataille, Consultant DermatologistNext review due, January 2026 Warts and verrucas are small, rough lumps or growths on&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2445"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2445"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2445\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2447,"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2445\/revisions\/2447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mulcahyspharmacy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}