The most commonly used treatments for warts and verrucas are those containing salicylic acid, and cryotherapy (freezing). Treatment with topical salicylic acid is applied daily for up to 12 weeks in order to gain symptom alleviation.
Evidence based data does not aid cryotherapy for younger children because they may find it too painful and may not be able to keep still long enough for the treatment to be applied.
In some cases the doctor might suggest surgical removal of the verruca by scraping it away using an instrument called a curette All surgical procedures leave scars, and these can be painful on the soles of your feet.
Further advice to support with management of verruca includes:
- Avoiding scratching lesions.
- Avoiding biting nails or sucking fingers that have warts.
- Keeping feet dry and changing socks daily.
- Children with warts or verrucae should not be excluded from activities such as sports and swimming, but should take measures to minimize transmission.
Answered by the Health at Hand nurses
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