Podiatry care for
Verrucas and Warts
Verrucas and warts can be painful, persistent, and easily spread.
Professional treatment can help resolve stubborn lesions,
reduce discomfort, and get you back on your feet with confidence.
expert care. Better outcomes
Why it
matters
Verrucas are warts that develop on the soles of the feet or around the toes. They are caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV, which enters the skin through tiny cuts or areas of damage.
Because they develop on weight-bearing areas of the foot, verrucas are often pushed inwards by the pressure of standing and walking. A layer of hard skin may form over them, making them uncomfortable or painful and sometimes causing people to change the way they walk.
Verrucas can vary in appearance. They may present as a single rough area of skin or as a cluster of smaller lesions known as mosaic verrucas. Small dark dots may also be visible within the lesion, caused by tiny blood vessels.
Although some verrucas disappear naturally, others can remain for months or even years. They may also spread to other areas of the foot or to other people through direct contact and shared surfaces, particularly in warm, damp environments such as swimming pools and changing rooms.
At Sevenoaks Podiatry, we can confirm whether the lesion is a verruca, assess how it is affecting you and recommend the most appropriate course of treatment. Options may include conventional treatments or Swift microwave therapy for persistent verrucas and warts that have not responded to treatment elsewhere.
Common causes
Verrucas are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which enters the skin through tiny cuts or abrasions, often in warm, damp environments.
Common symptoms
Small rough lesions on the sole of the foot that may be painful when walking or standing. Tiny black dots may also be visible.
Daily impact
Verrucas can become uncomfortable during everyday activities, affect sporting performance and, in some cases, spread to other areas of the feet.
Early treatment
Early treatment can reduce discomfort, minimise the spread of infection and improve the chances of successful removal.
Innovative
Verruca and Wart treatment
Introducing the Swift Microwave
In addition to more conventional treatment methods we are now able to offer this breakthrough treatment that uses SWIFT microwave technology to overcome verrucas.
It’s ideal for those people that have already tried acids, freeze sprays and duct tape, but still have a verucca or wart problem.
How it works
The research
A clinical study carried out by the University of Southampton recruited 32 adults with one or more persistant plantar warts for a course of up to 4 treatments roughly four weeks apart. In order to be eligible for the research, patients had to have had their verruca for at least one year and failed to respond to previous treatments.
The results showed that out of 54 warts treated with Swift microwave therapy, 76% of lesions had resolved. 94% of the resolved lesions cleared after three treatments or less.
To read the research please click here.
How we help
Assess
We'll examine the verruca, discuss your symptoms and recommend the most suitable treatment option..
Treat
Your personalised treatment begins, whether that's Swift® microwave therapy or another appropriate approach.
Protect
We'll provide advice to reduce discomfort, minimise spread and help protect healthy skin.
Review
We'll monitor your progress and adapt your treatment plan until the best possible outcome is achieved.
Have you got questions about verrucas or warts?
Call us, we're here to help:
Questions patients
often ask
What is a Verruca
Verrucae are plantar warts that commonly occur on the soles of the feet or around the toe area. They are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is highly contagious through direct person to person contact. There are various forms of HPV which all relate to various parts of the human body.
What is Swift?
Swift is a new technology that has been developed in the UK, and is licenced for the general treatment of Verruca and skin lesions in Podiatry and Dermatology. Swift uses microwave energy which is delivered through a special probe applied to the skin to treat the affected area. Microwaves have been used for over 30 years, and are employed globally in the effective treatment of cancer. The same fundamental power that powers Swift, is also being used in the treatment of lung, liver, kidney and breast cancer in countries all over the world.
What happens during treatment?
Before your treatment, we may remove some of the overlying hard skin on the verruca. The Swift probe is then held in contact with the skin for approximately 3- 5 seconds.
Pain levels vary from patient to patient, but most people liken the sensation to a pain similar to an injection or scratch lasting 2 – 3 seconds then quickly subsiding.
There is no need for an anaesthetic and we don’t need to dress the area following treatment.
Is it painful after treatment?
In some cases the area may feel tender, but will not prevent you from undertaking normal daily activities.
How many treatments will I need?
This depends on how you respond to treatment. In some cases, you may need more than three session (these are usually 4 weeks apart depending on the response). Your podiatrist will be able to discuss this with you.
Will Swift treatment work for me?
We will make a full assessment to discuss whether Swift treatment can help you and to ensure you are eligible. If you have tried various other verruca treatments and still have an issue, then Swift microwave energy might be for you. There are some precautions, namely:
- The presence of metal in your foot or ankle
- If you wear a pacemaker
- If you have poor or limited healing capacity because of neuropathy or peripheral circulation
- Patients who are immuno suppressed
- Pregnancy – the effect of verruca/e treatment is reduced during this time
- Treatment of young children
- Patients with a low pain threshold
What other treatments are there?
We can offer other treatments if Swift is not right for you. These include cryosurgery (freezing) or using strong acids to destroy the verruca. We can advise you of the most appropriate treatment when you book an appointment.
However, no treatment is 100% effective, and we cannot guarantee that the verruca or warts will not return.