Verrucas usually appear as small bumps on a person’s skin. They, along with warts, are caused by a virus known as the human papilloma virus (HPV). They are nothing to be ashamed of. Most people will find themselves with warts or verrucas at some point in their lives. This virus, while almost totally benign, is highly contagious, which has given way to hundreds of different variants. In turn, this has led to a variety of different looking verrucas and warts, which can make them hard to tell apart.
If you’re trying to figure out whether you have a wart or a verruca, it’s important to note three important details. The first is that verrucas usually appear on the feet and warts on the hands, although this is not a hard rule. The second, more distinctive difference is that they will almost always have small dark dots visible underneath its exterior. Lastly, is that warts will not feel any different than normal skin when touched or pressed. Verrucas on the other hand, will feel sharp and painful when pressed.
This can be unpleasant, considering that they are most commonly found on the feet.
Treating Verrucas
Verrucas, despite being caused by a virus, are usually no more than an annoyance. They can be irritating or embarrassing to have, but they generally tend to go away on their own. Unfortunately, this can take months, or even years, to happen. So, in the meantime, it is important to keep the affected skin as healthy as possible to promote healing and prevent any possible scarring.
How To Prevent Verrucas From Spreading
Whether you’re waiting for it to go away on its own or actively having it removed, it is important to keep in mind that your condition is contagious. Make sure that you take the necessary precautions to prevent it from spreading.
Infection requires direct or indirect contact with the affected areas of skin, so make sure you always wash your hands after you touch a verruca or wart. If you have verrucas, change your socks daily. If you’re about to go swimming, then always cover the affected skin with a water-tight plaster. Be very careful not to nick any verruca or wart while you are shaving.
Do not share anything that regularly comes into contact with your skin while infected. This includes items such as clothes, towels, footwear, etc. Avoid biting your nails or otherwise putting your mouth anywhere near areas of skin affected by HPV. Do not walk barefoot in public spaces; you should avoid doing this in general, but especially when the skin on your feet is both vulnerable and potentially infectious.
Finally, and perhaps the most difficult advice to follow; do not scratch or pick at verrucas or warts. Uncomfortable as they may be, the affected skin is your body’s way of containing the virus. Breaking the skin is a sure-fire way to spread it across more of your own body and to other people.
Getting Rid Of Them
There are three methods of removing verrucas. Waiting, pharmaceuticals, and treatments:
- Waiting involves, as you might imagine, waiting. This method may seem tedious, but most verrucas do eventually disappear on their own. ‘Eventually’, however, is the watchword here as this can takes years. If they aren’t causing you any trouble, waiting them out is an option.
- Your next option is pharmaceuticals. There are a variety of creams, coverings, and sprays that can be used to treat verrucas and warts. However, these chemicals can take months to work and have the potential to irritate or harm your skin if used improperly or on someone with a skin condition. Be sure to consult an expert, such as a pharmacist, your GP, or one of our experts at the Feetness Centre before going ahead with this option.
- Your final option is treatment; direct medical intervention. This usually involves the use of methods such as needling or cryotherapy and is by far the fastest method. This method can take as little as a few hours to work, or as much as a few weeks, depending on the strain of HPV and your own medical status. As with treatment, it is vitally important to consult with an expert before choosing this option.
Contact The Feetness Clinic For Verruca Treatment
If you would like to learn more about the verruca or wart treatments available to you and would like an expert opinion on how to proceed, feel free to contact us today. We are happy to help.