Verrucae & Warts
Verrucas and Warts
Verrucas are patches of thick skin on the sole of your foot, and have a distinctive appearance. They are white and circular in appearance and often have black spots at their centre, due to small haemorrhages. Verrucas can be painful to walk on, especially when they form on weight-bearing areas of the foot. Unlike corns or calluses, verrucas are a result of a viral infection, specifically the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). They are prone to spreading to other parts of the foot or forming clusters known as mosaic verrucas. While most verrucas eventually vanish on their own, the process can be a lengthy one, lasting for years or even decades. To expedite the process, action is necessary.
Causes
Verrucas share a common culprit with warts: the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). In fact, the word verruca is the special name given to warts that appear on the feet. When the hpv infects the skin cells, it triggers an excessive production of skin cells, which leads to the characteristic thickened appearance of the skin. The surface of a verruca often adopts a rough grainy appearance, often compared to a cauliflower.
Verrucas are often caught in damp communal areas such as communal showers or changing rooms and around swimming pools. It is believed that the mildly abrasive surface of these surfaces cause cuts and abrasions on the sole of the foot allowing entry of the virus into the skin of the feet. Sharing shoes, socks, or towels with someone with a verruca is also a no-go to avoid cross-infection with hpv.
Prevention
- Cover your feet in damp communal areas, and flip flops are a practical and affordable choice.
- Avoid sharing socks, shoes, or towels with someone with a verruca.
- Cover cuts and abrasions on your feet with a plaster.
- Wearing verruca (rubber) socks might feel a bit awkward, but they are an excellent way to reduce the spread of infection.
Before & After Images
Wart
Verrucae
