Verrucae (Plantar Warts)

varrucae (plantAr warts)

Warts are small lumps on the skin that most people have at some point in their life. They usually go away on their own but may take months or even years. Warts on the sole (Plantar surface) of your foot are called Verrucae.

Warts and verrucae are caused by a virus, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

They are highly contagious and can easily be spread to other people.

To treat or not to treat?

In the majority of occurrences, if they are not causing you any problems then there is no real need to treat warts. Half the number of children who develop warts will find that they have disappeared within a year on their own without any treatment and two thirds of those children’s verrucae will have gone within two years. The chance that a wart will go quickly is greatest in children and young people, as, for the most part, their general health and immunity are strongest, the HPV virus is like many others, it will suddenly appear when you are poorly, stressed or working too hard. Sometimes warts last longer, particularly in adults and in some cases warts may take between 5 and 10 years to clear.

Treatment can often clear warts more quickly. However, many treatments are time-consuming and some can be painful. Parents often want treatment for their children even when the children themselves are often not bothered by their warts. In most cases, simply waiting for them to go is usually the best thing to do.

Verrucae are more likely to need treatment when they actually make walking painful: the verruca is pressed into the sensitive flesh of the sole of your foot when you stand or weight-bear.