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Cheshire, CW11 1GT
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Verrucae
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), affects the epidermal layer of our skin causing warts and when they appear on our feet we call them verrucae.
Viruses are microscopic. What we can see on the feet are the distorted skin cells that the verrucae has invaded. There may be small black dots which are strangulated capillaries (tiny blood vessels) tangled up in the lesion.
A verrucae may be a single lesion (plantar wart) which on weight bearing areas can be quite deep and covered with hard skin, or a cluster known as mosaic warts (cutaneous warts) which are generally more superficial.
Verruca can clear up on their own, especially in children, but this is less likely in adults and rarely seen in the immune-suppressed.
You may decide to treat if you are experiencing pain, interference with normal walking/ running, cosmetic embarrassment or to prevent further spreading. They are spread by the transfer of a virally infected cell in a damp environment.
All treatments aim to cause a disruption to the epidermis (the outside layer of skin where the virus lives), to alert your immune system to the presence of the virus and stimulate an immune response from you.
Over the counter treatments can be successful but if you are finding you are struggling to resolve the issue, Podiatrists have access to treatments which are unavailable in the chemist or which you would be unable to do yourself.
At Stride Clinic we offer topical treatments and Falknor’s Needling which is carried out under local anaesthetic.