Verrucas Treatments Follow Ups (Other than Swift and Dry needling)

These appointments are only available after an initial consultation treatment has taken place.

Verrucas are a virus from the family known as (HPV) Human Pappillana Virus. They can come in different forms single, mosaic, satellite and are all very stubborn to get rid of! This is because they hide away in a layer of the skin (epidermis) where the bodies immune system doesn't pick them up. They can hide away, duplicate and grow under the bodies natural defence system. They can be on the bottom of the feet inbetween the toes on the tops of the toes and can spread.

Are They Contagious?

The answer to this is yes! If you have a small break in the skin (this can be microscopic!) The virus can enter and start to replicate.

Who Is At Risk Of Them?

Anybody can get a verruccae however they are often seen in children and people who use communial changing areas (sports centres, swimming baths etc!)

How Can They Be Treated?

There are many treatment modalities for Verrucas however what works for one person may not specifically work for another.

• Tincture of time: Do nothing just cover with a sports tape (kinesiology tape) to stop spreading it. Verrucas can generally self resolve within 2 years. However this is not always the case and further treatments may be necessary.
• Debridement: The verruca virus often does not hurt, it is the hard skin that builds up on top of it that can become painful. Regular debridement of this hard skin can help by causing the verrucca to bleed. It is believed that it alerts your immune system that something is wrong.
• Acids and Freezing: Acid and cryotherapy (freezing the tissue) both work by causing destruction to the verruca and surrounding skin and tissue again initating the immune response that something is wrong (regular debridement is required with this method).
• Silver nitrate: This is a very mild form of acid however can also be used for verruca treatment along with regular debridement.
• Dry Needling: This is a more intensive treatment as a local anaesthetic is required. Multiple punctures with a special needle are made into the verruca itself. This is thought to introduce the virus into the layers of the skin where the immune system can recognise it and begin to fight it.
• Verrutop: This is a specialist nitric zinc acid complex used to treat stubborn Verrucas. A course of 6 treatments is initially required however dependent upon the virus strength further treatments may be required.