Verrucae and warts are infections of the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They develop from physical contact with particles of infected skin from another person. This occurs more frequently in communal areas such as swimming pools, gyms, changing rooms where people are barefoot.
Children are prone to catching them due to activities with other children who are barefoot.
The elderly or people with a weakened immune system are also susceptible, but anyone can contract the infection.
Layers of the skin
The skin is divided into two layers, the epidermis which is the surface layer and the dermis which lies beneath it. The epidermal layer has no blood vessels or nerves and is constantly producing new cells at its base which are shed (60% of house dust is dead skin shed from our bodies).
The papilloma virus causing the verruca or wart, affects just the epidermal layer. The infection results in the formation of unsightly growths. They are non-cancerous, benign tumours of the skin. They can be painful especially on the sole of the foot over bony areas. They can disappear spontaneously or persist untreated for years.
Normally when we catch a virus, for example a cold, our body is able to fight it by inflammation producing antibodies and that’s why we get better. The HPV virus unlike other viral infections can persist due to shedding of the skin and also the virus inhibits an immune response which enables it to hide without detection.
Once you have the virus, it remains in our bodies in the same way that the Chicken Pox virus does. So, after successful treatment occasionally verrucae/warts can reappear at the same location or in a different part of the body. However, the good news is that treatment will educate your immune system so that it will generally suppress the virus successfully and keep it dormant, unless it is depressed, for example, by illness.
Treatment Options
Chemical treatments
This involves putting a caustic chemical on to the verruca to cause the infected skin and virus to die by causing a chemical burn.
The chemicals used include Silver Nitrate, Trichloroacetic acid (TCA), Monochloroacetic acid (MCA) and Salicylic acid. These have a between 40 – 50% success rate.
Cryosurgery
Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the verruca. Cryotherapy is controlled freezing of the skin. A blister forms, which peels off in a week to 10 days. Repeated treatments may be needed.
Swift
Swift is a new microwave technology developed in the UK. Microwave energy is delivered by a special probe applied to the skin overlying the wart or verruca. The effect is to rapidly elevate tissue temperature to create precise, localised cell destruction. This energy activates the immune system to attack the verruca or wart. Normally only 3-4 monthly treatments are required but recalcitrant verruca may require more. Verrucae/warts which have been present for some years generally require longer treatment. This treatment has the highest success rate.
Locksbottom Podiatry
411 Crofton Road
Locksbottom
Kent
BR6 8NL
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01689 889900
Opening Hours:
Monday 9am – 5pm
Tuesday Temporarily Closed
Wednesday 9am – 4pm
Thursday Temporarily Closed
Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday 9am – 1pm
