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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.

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, I'm 19 and have several verrucas on one foot. I have tried different treatments but they wont go away. I really want to get rid of them as I havent been able to go swimming which is a large part of my exercise regime and they can be quite uncomfortable, especially when I am walking.
What shall I do?

Hello I am 16 and I have 1 verruca on my left foot and 8 on my Right foot and I am using the Scholl verruca removal kit so I am wondering if it actually work's.

Hi, I'm 13 and have like 4 verucas on my foot and they have been there for like 3-4 years now and dont know what to do. They are painless but annoying just knowing they are there. Please Help

I have had a verruca for several years now and it won't go away! And I'm only 14 so it's really embarrassing and disgusting and alot of the time painful. I just want to get rid of it but I've tried home freezing kits, cushion treatment, doctors freezing and some sticker thing from scholl and none of them have worked at all. Please help me!!!!

I have 13 verruca's on one foot they are painful and nothing is getting rid of them i've tryed EVERYTHING !!its embarrasing i have PE all the time in which i have to take my shoes & socks of its so embarasing. Please help me .

i have got Mosaic Verucas and i don't know how to get rid off them!! Please help me as when im at school sometimes i have to do p.e barefooted so i ask if i can be excused from lesson. this is very embarrasing!

I have had a verruca for over two years, right in the centre of the ball of my foot, it's very painful to walk on as it's under the main pressure point. I've tried gels, home freezing and even digging it out. I've been using the vinegar and duct tape method and it's gone all brown, but that's it, it's still there. I attempted to cut out the brown bits but it bled everywhere.. any help??

i have had a vrucca on the heel of my foot for 4 years and i have beengoing to the chiropodist it is serverly painfull and i would like it cut out and curterised but the hospital won do it where can i get it done pleae some one has to help i am in constant pain and the wart is the size of a 50p piece and its about a centimeter thick its really gross and am very concous about it and really need help

Heya

im 18 years old and ive had verrucas for almost a year now. ive tried everything from creams to having them frozen off but thats way to painful for me to endure since they cover the majority of my right foot and have started to spread to my left foot. i am really selfconcious as it is and this makes it so much worse. my GP is useless and gave me steroids which did nothing. please, please help me :(

i have 2 warts on my knee very close and 2 verrucas on my foot i have tried all sorts of sealing and freezing techniques but none of them work any ideas?




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The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


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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.


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