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Conditions

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.

If your child has verrucas or warts, check our guide especially for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.

Comments and Questions

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

I'm 14 and first got a verruca when i was 8 at the swimming pool and got rid of it with bazuka. about two years ago it came back in exactly the same place and spread so i now have 6.Bazuka isn't working but just hardend my skin. Im getting them frozen next week but will be at school and i'm so self conscious i'm afraid people will see it in gym class.I'm hysterically panicking Please help :(





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I have just had a verucca frozen on my foot at the doctors and next to were it was it has turned into a inch size blister and i can hardly walk on it as well its is really painfully as well is this normal for getting them frozen?





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hi ive got one on my middle finger and have had it for 3 years im 18 and have diabetes meaning i can not youse salatac asid does any one halve any info for me ????????





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I have had 4 for the past 4 years one is very largeand more keep appearing, i have had them frozen by my GP twice and used every over the counter treatment out there. nothing is working, would you advice having them surgicaly removed?





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Hey thnks emily. Will do!!





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Hey i am 13 and have three clusters of verruccas on my foot near my big toe, two are big clusters and other is smaller. Had them for about 2 yrs now and have tried self freezing and prescription from doctor!!! Please can somebody help!!!???? I am soo self concious about them and really want them to go away!!!!





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try salatac gel, freezing makes them come back in even bigger clusters

Hey thnks!! Will do. in the meantime though i am taking thuja tablets. They are brill! Only been using for a day and already a verrucca is nerally completely gone!!! Totally recomend. Btw banana works well to.

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Hi , im 13 years old and i have 25 verucas , 24 on one foot and 1 on the other , mmy mum went to get veruca cream but they said no becuase it wouldnrt wotk when they looked at them they said it might not be verucas, but it might be this other thing because they are sore and itchy and dont have black spots in please help they are very sore :(





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Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/

Hi Im 46 and had verrucas for the past nine years ,ive tried and had various treatments to get rid of them bazzuca,self freezing,freezing at the doctors,duct tape,then had operation to cut them out last march which still didnt get rid of them then i saw a different doctor who prescribe flexitol cream and thuja tablets taken once a wk strange but after taking tablets twice and creaming my foot it started going black and the filing of my foot was different and noticed they were going over a time i only have a couple left so fingers crossed . hope this is of some help.





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I have 13 verrucas on one foot, and I am a dancer therefore I am constantly feeling self concious about them and always wear socks to hide them. I have had verrucas for quite a few years, but they have been spreading for the past year or so. I have tried freezing them but it hasn't worked, and I considered getting them surgically removed but it frightens me! They don't really hurt, I just want to be able to wear bare feet in confidence and not have to worry about them. Apparently vinegar or iodine solution helps? Some advise about how to remove them quickly and effectively would be great! Thank you!





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try salatac gel =)

Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/

hi im 13 and i keep going docters about my warts all on my feet. I have tried acid, wartner and basuka. They keep saying they will go in there own time but i cry because they are just getting worse and spreading! People also always ask about it and i say the big one on the side of my foot is a blister but the others just keep spreading on the side and underneath my foot.





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Sophie, try using Apple Cider Vinegar. I have. It's probably the most effective and quickest way of removing warts and verrucas (and cheapest). You will see an effect straight away. Search the web for methods and testimonials.

I've never had a verruca before and am resorting to the cider vinegar method. Have been doing it for three nights. How do I know if it is having effect.

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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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