Verruca Treatments

Verrucae are benign types of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Verrucae do not need to be treated, they will usually go on their own and have a life span of between 2 and 5 years (but some can last longer). 


Although harmless verruca can be a cause of distress to some people and if located on weight bearing areas can cause some discomfort.  If this is the case for you then I would suggest seeing a Podiatrist to ensure your lesion is a verruca and to discuss your treatment options.

Verruca Services

Verrucae are notoriously difficult to treat and no one treatment can guarantee to get rid of them.


Here at Plymouth Podiatry we only offer the most effective treatments.  Over the counter remedies which can be bought at the pharmacy as well as caustics and cryotherapy have a very low success rate.


Following an initial assessment of your general well-being and foot health we can decide on the most appropriate treatment plan for you.


We offer three main treatments: Sharp Debridement, Verruca Needling and Swift Microwave Therapy.

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Swift Microwave Therapy

Swift is a pioneering microwave therapy system for treating verrucae and we are delighted to be able to offer this to our patients.


Verrucae are notoriously difficult to treat due to their ability to hide from our immune system.


However, a course of three Swift treatments has a success rate of 80%!


The procedure is Non-invasive, quick and requires no dressings or down time.


Swift costs £150 per session

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Verruca Needling


A form of soft tissue therapy which involves multiple punctures to the Verrucae under local anaesthetic with the intention of creating a controlled inflammatory response which, in turn, stimulates the body's immune system to recognise the virus and destroy it.



Needling: £275

  • What is Verruca Needling?

    Verruca needling is a minor surgical procedure which has been around for over 45 years (being first descried in a medical journal in America in 1969) and is used routinely with great success by practitioners internationally.

  • How Does Verruca Needling Work?

    By puncturing the verruca with an empty 

    sterile needle many times, the viral particles are directly exposed to the fatty tissue beneath the skin where the body is rich in immune regulators. 

    Here, the immune system can recognise and destroy the virus. As the immune response is systemic, it may be that treatment of only one 

    Verruca is required, even where there are many lesions.  One huge advantage of dry needling over other treatments is that usually only one, sometimes, two sessions of treatment are needed. If you have multiple lesions then only one lesion needs to be treated as a systemic immune response is initiated. There is no evidence that suggests using this technique can spread the virus further.

  • Does Verruca Needling Work?

    As with all verruca treatments results cannot be guaranteed but studies have shown Verruca Needling has a success rate of approximately 69%. 

Sharp Debridement

Sharp debridement of your verrucae to make them less unsightly and more comfortable while you wait for your body to fight the virus naturally.



Debriding a verruca has the following benefits as a form of treatment;


  • It is a completely painless procedure
  • There is no risk of damaging the surrounding healthy tissues
  • Is a safer option for more at risk patients such as those patients with diabetes
  • It can be carried out in clinic during initial assessment or routine care appointments
  • It does not require the use of local anaesthetic


FAQs

  • What Causes Verrucae?

    Verrucae are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). They can spread from person to person by direct skin contact or by contact with floors or surfaces contaminated with the virus. Although  contagious, the risk of catching them is fairly low. You’re more likely to get infected if your skin is damaged or wet, so infection can be linked to swimming pools and communal showers. You can also infect yourself. If you scratch a verruca, the viral particles may spread to other areas of your skin.


    You’re more likely to develop verrucae if you have a weakened immune system. This might be because you have a medical condition or are taking medicine that suppress your immune system.

  • Do I Have a Verruca?

    They generally appear as an area of flat, thick or rough skin with a hard edge around the outside. Sometimes they can have small black spots in the centre. They are often painless to touch but can painful to walk or stand on.

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For further information on the services we offer or to book your appointment today please call, alternatively you can email the clinic any time of the day or request a call back with a time that is convenient to you.


Please be aware that we ask our patients to give a minimum of 24 hours notice if you would like to cancel or change an appointment, otherwise a cancelation charge will be incurred.