A verruca can be frustrating, especially when you thought it had gone and then notice a rough patch on your foot again. Has the original verruca returned, is it a new one, or did it never fully clear?
There is no reliable way to answer that just by looking at it at home. Verrucas can persist for a long time, and a new growth may appear nearby. If you are unsure what you are dealing with, a podiatrist can examine your foot and advise you on the next step. Understanding Verrucas: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.
Why might a verruca seem to return?
Verrucas are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Your immune system can eventually clear a verruca, but this may take months or sometimes longer. Treatment can help, although no method is guaranteed to work for everyone. Get in more info from the NHS website here.
A verruca that seems to have come back may be:
- The original verruca still present: Its appearance may have changed during treatment without it fully clearing.
- A new verruca: Verrucas can spread to another part of your foot.
- Something else: Corns and other skin changes can look similar to verrucas.
If you keep treating the same area without seeing an improvement, it is sensible to have it assessed rather than assume it is a verruca.
Why hasn’t my verruca treatment worked?
Pharmacy treatments often require regular use over several weeks. Results vary, and it can be difficult to tell whether the growth has fully cleared. Follow the instructions supplied with any treatment and avoid applying it to healthy skin.
It is also worth checking the diagnosis. A painful patch of hard skin may be a corn rather than a verruca, and the appropriate treatment will differ. Our guide to telling a verruca from a corn explains some common differences, but an in-person assessment is the best way to check an uncertain growth.
Do not cut or pick at a suspected verruca yourself. This can damage the skin and may help the virus spread. If you have diabetes, poor circulation or a weakened immune system, seek professional advice before trying a home treatment.
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Can I leave a verruca alone?
Yes, in some cases. A painless verruca may clear without treatment, so it does not always need to be removed. Whether to seek treatment depends on factors such as discomfort, how long it has been there and whether it is affecting your daily activities. Find out more info here.
You should arrange an assessment if the area is painful, spreading, bleeding, changing in appearance or not responding to treatment. It is also worth getting advice if you are unsure whether the growth is a verruca at all.
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What can I do to reduce the chance of verrucas spreading?
Simple precautions can help reduce the risk of passing the virus to another person or another area of your foot:
- Avoid picking or scratching the verruca.
- Wash your hands after touching it.
- Do not share towels, socks, shoes or foot files.
- Wear flip-flops in communal showers and changing areas.
- Cover the verruca with a waterproof plaster when swimming. www.nhs.uk
These steps can reduce the risk of spread, but they cannot guarantee that another verruca will not appear.
How can Paul Miller Podiatry help?
At Paul Miller Podiatry, we can examine the affected area, check whether it appears to be a verruca and talk through the options that suit your circumstances. If treatment is appropriate, our clinic options include cryotherapy and acid-based treatment. Some verrucas need more than one appointment, and we will explain what to expect before treatment begins. Understanding Verrucas: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.
We see patients at our clinics in Strood, Rochester and Sidcup:
- Strood: Hobourn House, Priory Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 2BD
- Sidcup: The Birkbeck, 45 Birkbeck Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4DB paulmillerpodiatry.co.uk
If a verruca seems to keep coming back, is becoming painful or simply is not improving, contact Paul Miller Podiatry to arrange an assessment. You can also read more about our verruca treatment service or start with our guide to verruca causes, symptoms and treatment.