Painful verruca on a heel
Verrucae (the plural of verruca) produce skin lumps that can sometimes be uncomfortable , usually we find that they don’t cause much pain and they have a life span, with time they may go on their own .
Anyone can contract them, at any age, but we often seen cases where there has been no cross-infection within the family home (even after a long time) .
They appear to need a scratch or graze of the skin in order for the virus to gain entry to the skin . They live in the part of the skin that is not in contact with the blood supply – so the body might not recognise the infection.
The skin is an excellent barrier against infection so with normal foot hygiene and cleanliness around the home and you usually are safe from cross-infection.
To treat or not to treat? – That is the question…
They can look horrible and they can cause pain . Our primary goal of any treatment is to reduce pain and improve the aesthetic appearance.
Treatment of verrucae is never 100 % successful – some patients problems resolve very quickly, others can be seemingly resistant to any treatment.
Treatment options can include :
- Leaving it alone.
- Guided self-management using over the counter medicaments and abrasion with occasional returns to the podiatrist for reduction of hard skin to improve effectiveness.
- Clinical application of suitable acids and cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen , carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide)
- Insoles and shoe advice to reduce pressure and pain of verrucae on the weightbearing surfaces of the foot.
- Minor surgeries under local anaesthetic.
Call us on (01403) 276272 to book an appointment….
We should be always be cautious about treatment, children are often affected and as a parent it can be worthwhile discussing your child’s case as to what action you should take . The treatment could be worse than the condition !
If you are pregnant , or have a medical condition; diabetes or other conditions that affect your immune response, we need to approach treatment with care.
Call us on (01403) 276272 to book an appointment for assessment and treatment where necessary.
