Verruca

A verruca is a wart on the foot that is caused by a virus (HPV) When compared to other warts, verrucae on the feet appear flattened due to pressure from standing and walking.

There are two main types of verruca, they are:

Verruca plantaris

Verruca plantaris is the name given to a verruca on the sole of the foot

Mosaic verruca

Mosaic verruca is the name given to a cluster of small verrucae. Mosaic verrucae occur due to a process called autoinoculation. Autoinoculation is a secondary infection by an infection that a person already has.

Causes

• Direct or indirect contact by another affected individual
• Human papillomaviruses

Symptoms & Identification

• Often painful due to their location
• Sometimes itchy.
• On scratching the warts may bleed as well.
• Single or more than one clustered together with black dots
• Round or oval
• Raised or flattened.
• Keynote: Squeeze test. If you pinch lesion, a corn will not elicit much pain, whereas verruca will cause pain in this position.

Care & Treatment

At Home Podiatry, treatment varies depending on age, location, size, and number of verrucae present. As a result, the next step will be decided jointly between you and your podiatrist. It is important to remember that no verruca treatment option is 100% effective.