Verrucas and Warts

A verruca is simply a wart that appears on the soles of your feet, although they can also appear around the toes. It may become rough and bumpy with a cauliflower-like appearance and may develop a black spot in the middle due to bleeding. Verrucae can exist as single lumps or may spread into a cluster of small warts.

Warts are small, rough lumps on the skin caused by a virus (human papillomavirus) that triggers a reaction in the skin. Warts can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the hands and feet.

Are warts contagious? Yes, but the risk of passing them on to others is low. Close skin-to-skin contact is needed, and the likelihood of infection is higher if the skin is damaged or if it is wet and in contact with rough surfaces, such as in swimming pools and changing areas.

Additionally, you can spread the wart virus to other areas of your body. For example, warts may spread around the nails, lips, and surrounding skin if you bite warts on your fingers or nearby nails. If you have a weakened immune system, you may develop numerous warts that can be challenging to clear.

Prevention of Verrucas and Warts

To prevent warts, always consider the following:

Avoid direct contact with another person’s wart
Don’t share towels with a person who has warts
Don’t share shoes or socks with someone who has a verruca
Don’t scratch or pick at a wart, this may encourage it to spread
Wear flip-flops in communal showers and around swimming pools

Verrucae treatment is quite common in our Clinic – they affect the young and old. Aside from treating a verruca, we discuss any issues of overall health or stress which can cause a verruca not to be resolved.

At Abbots Langley Foot Clinic we are happy to examine and advise as to whether a verruca needs treatment, and if so, which is the most suitable method of treatment for you.