What is a verruca?
A verruca is a wart which is found on the bottom of your foot and toes. They come
in different shapes and sizes, which can make it quite tough to recognise if you have
one or not. Usually, not always, they can be covered with hard skin (callus) and may
present with random black dots within the verruca’s centre. The hard skin is due to an excessive production of cells called keratin,which is a hard protein. These layers form on top of each other which makes the hard skin. The black dots are miniature blood vessels called capillaries. In saying this, it differs from person to person so one may see black dots others may not.
What causes it?
Verrua is a virus which infects the one layer of the skin called the epidermis. It is a part of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) family. The Human Papilloma Virus has many different strains and is responsible for other bodily lesions such as cold sores or warts on your hands. The HPV thrives in moist, warm and/or damp environments. Because it is a virus, it can survive on different types of surfaces/areas. Examples of this would be; public swimming pools, changing rooms or communal showers.
It can be passed from person to person by direct contact or it is possible to contract the virus by walking on the same floor as someone who already has it. The risk is increased when there is a cut or an abrasion in the skin, which can make it a lot easier for the virus to penetrate and lie dormant in the skin. The virus is not highly contagious, and it is unclear why some people develop plantar warts while others do not. The virus enters the skin through tiny breaks in the skin surface. The break in the skin can be visible but also micro tears that are not visible to the human eye can occur too. Excess moisture and maceration of the skin on the feet can cause tears in the skin making it easier for the virus to invade.
How do I know I have one?
As I mentioned earlier, it can be quite difficult to recognise a verruca. They come in many different shapes and sizes. All the podiatrists at Stillorgan Podiatry Clinic have dealt with numerous verrucae and know the classic trademarks of distinguishing whether it is an actual verruca or not. The common mistake for a verruca is corn and vice versa.
Corns present with very similar trademarks as verrucae but there are two main things that set them apart. Apart from the hard skin and possible black dots trademarks, there are two key
differences to look for;
1. The first one is that corns are generally painful when pressed on but verruca
are usually painful when squeezed. (This can be subjective because not every verruca is painful.)
2. The second is the striations (lines) of the skins do not change when corns are
presented but in the case of the verruca, they are disrupted and move around
the outside of the lesion. The way to remember it is that viruses are unwanted
robbers destroying everything in its path.
So, when the experienced podiatrist
at Stillorgan Podiatry Clinic are looking to see if it is a verruca or not, these are the trademarks they look out for to make their clinical decision.
In the next blog, I will discuss the various treatments available and give recommendations of the best ones to try! But If you are experiencing any of these issues and wanted to get it sorted, Call Stillorgan Podiatry Clinic today and book in with our experienced Podiatrists.
You can call us on (01) 516 0044
Or alternatively, you can book your appointment online on stillorganpodiatry.com