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Verrucas

close up of verruca on foot

In the same way that walking barefoot around swimming pools, changing rooms and any communal area can lead to Athlete’s Foot, there is also the possibility that you might pick up the odd plantar wart (or verruca) as well. A verruca is a wart on the sole of the foot, which is pressed into the foot by the weight of the body, and can therefore be painful. You can have one verruca or sometimes you can have several small warts packed together into a small area, known as a ‘mosaic wart’ (not as beautifully artistic as it sounds, but usually painless). In children, verrucas tend to come and go quite quickly, but in adults they can persist for several years if they are not treated (although, some will go away by themselves). There are plenty of treatments available, but no single treatment is guaranteed.

+++UPDATE+++

In our episode first broadcast on Wednesday 22nd April 2009 we featured the case of Charlotte who was suffering from a severe outbreak of Verrucas. Charlotte’s operation to remove the verrucas from her foot appears to have been successful and her foot is healing really well. She’s back on her bike and back to being a normal child, pending a potential bone marrow transplant.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

hi, my 7year son has one veruca on the end of his toe, which is growing all the time and now looks like a claw, it is lifting his nail up too. we have tried the creams, freezing at home etc, unable to keep duct tape on, the doctor will not freeze it in a clinic as he is under 10 years. It is now hurting every day wearing his footwear, when swimming (sock on) and playing football, has anyone got any suggestions?

hey im 18 and ive got loads of verrucas there in a big clump on the bottom of my left and right foot it hurts when i walk. Ive had them since i was 10 and ive been to the doctors. ive tried all of the treatments apart from freezing does this hurt i just want them gone. please help.

You're better seeing a hpc registered Podiatrist. Most GPs don't offer any treatment anymore!

hi , i had a verucca on my left foot , i had it for about 3 years , i was getting quite concerned because it just wouldnt go away , i was using all the gels and tried getting it frozen off , they all didnt work , i decided to just leave it and put nothing on it , and it worked , so dont get too worked up over it :):), it will eventually go away on its own ! :D

HEYY Im 14, 15 in may i have six verrucas, so i think 4 on my left foot and 2 on my right i have had some of them since i was in yr 4-5 and im now in yr 10 they are really aanoying and i just want rid of them i have tryed frezzing but that doesnt work i have run out of options plz help
xxx

I have a verruca on my toe which has now started to spread. I was told to cover it with duct tape to kill it, but this falls off or I wrap it so tight it hurts my foot. I have had the verruca for about 5 years. Any suggestions?
Thanks

Hi i'm 13 and i've had a large verruca for a few years now, recently over the past few months i've got a few more. One foot has 4 small ones and one larger one, the other has a few small ones. The largest is like a big hole in my foot. I'm not sure whether it's meant to be this big. Is this normal and how can i get rid of them and prevent more? x thanks x

Hi everyone SCHOLL make a product called wart removal gel that works great , i had two enormous plantar warts on my right foot they resisted everything, the product dries white and killed my warts dead in 10 weeks , which seems a long time but i had them for 5 years, so it was great.

hi
ive had a veruuca on my foot for like 3 years now and my mum and dad finaly tell me that there gonna freexe it with this stuff and when they tryed to do it the first time i screamed because it looked so cold and my friends say when they had it done it felt like burning and im really scared
please help
xxxxx

Hi i'm 13 and i've had a large verruca for a few years now, recently over the past few months i've got a few more. One foot has 4 small ones and one larger one, the other has a few small ones. The largest is like a big hole in my foot. I'm not sure whether it's meant to be this big. Is this normal and how can i get rid of them and prevent more? x thanks x





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Videos

  1. Verruca consultaion

    Consultation: Verrucas

    Dr McKenna examines two patients with severe outbreaks of verrucas

  2. Bunions on the feet

    Consultation: Bunions

    A few particularly painful bunions are examined by Dr McKenna

  3. Athlete's foot

    Quick Health Advice: Athlete's Foot

    Dr Harper gives out some advice on how to avoid getting the particulary nasty athlete's foot

  4. A verruca on the sole of a foot

    Quick Health Advice: Warts and Verrucas

    Dr McKenna looks at the causes of warts and verrucas and some of the treatments available.

  5. Feet Body Check with Dr Christian Jessen

    Body Check: Feet

    Dr Christian talks about common foot conditions and the importance of checking your feet.

  6. bunion

    Consultation: Extreme Bunions

    Dr Christian meets Patricia, a patient who is suffering from bunions

  7. In Detail: Fungal Toe

    We take an in detail look at an operation to remove a fungal toenail that has been causing extreme discomfort.


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