All about Verrucas

What is a verruca? Verrucas are warts on the foot, or 'plantar warts'. You could call any wart a verruca, but people usually use the term 'verruca' specifically to mean a wart on the sole of the foot.

What causes verrucas? Verrucas are caused by an infection of the skin by a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is highly contagious. The viral infection is spread through skin contact with contaminated surfaces. We are especially prone if our immune system is weakened, or if the skin on our hands and feet is damaged by cuts or scratches and comes into contact with rough surfaces contaminated with the virus. This explains why people often catch verrucas in communal changing areas, like those at swimming pools and gym clubs. Virus-infected skin cells are shed onto the floor and passed onto others walking over the same area.

If someone has a wart or verruca the virus can spread to other parts of their body as well as to other people.

Verrucas tend to appear on weight bearing areas such as the ball of the foot, making them particularly uncomfortable and quite painful to walk on. In addition, verrucas can be more painful when you wear tight fitting shoes.

Things to know about verrucas.

Verrucas may go away by themselves eventually, but this can take a considerable length of time, and there is always the risk of spreading them to others or getting more yourself because they are contagious. So it is best to treat them when they first appear. The longer verrucas are left untreated the harder they can be to remove, so children' feet should be checked regularly.

Good tips to avoid getting verrucas include always wearing some kind of footwear in places like communal showers and sports changing rooms, and always using your own towel.