Verrucae are growths that typically appear on the heels or other weight-bearing areas of the feet. These are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus enters the body through breaks in the skin, such as cuts, that are on the bottom of the feet. Verrucae are more likely to affect children and teenagers, people with weakened immune systems, people who have a history of verrucae, and people who walk barefoot in environments exposed to a verruca-causing virus.

If you suspect you have verrucae, you may have the following symptoms: pain or tenderness while walking, a lesion that interrupts the ridges in the skin of your foot, small fleshy lesions on the bottom of the foot, or a callus where a verruca has grown inward over a well-defined spot on the skin.

HPV causes verrucae to form and is very common. There are more than 100 kinds of the virus in existence. However, only a few of them cause warts on the feet. The other types of HPV are likely to cause warts on other parts of the body.

If you have verrucae, your podiatrist may try different treatment methods depending on your specific case. Some treatments include leaving alone, verrucae needling, peeling medicines (salicylic acid), freezing medicines (cryotherapy), or surgical procedures. Electrosurgery/Laser and microwave therapy are also used to treat verrucae. We are proudly serving the communities of Weybridge, Addlestone, Chertsey, Hersham, West Byfleet, Shepperton.