Verrucas are plantar warts caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They develop in the outer layer of skin, most commonly on the soles of the feet. Pressure from standing and walking can push a verruca inwards beneath a layer of hard skin, which is why it may feel like you are standing on a small stone or needle.
Many verrucas are harmless and eventually clear as the immune system recognises the virus. Treatment may be worth considering when a verruca is painful, spreading, repeatedly returning, affecting walking or sport, or has not improved with appropriate self-care.
At Petts Wood Practice, a podiatrist can confirm whether the lesion is a verruca and discuss a treatment plan based on its size, number, location, duration, symptoms, previous treatment and your general health.
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See live availability and prices online, or call the practice if you would like help choosing the right appointment.
Do all verrucas need treatment?
No. A small, painless verruca may be monitored, particularly in a child, because spontaneous clearance is common. Pressure-relieving padding and simple hygiene measures may be all that is needed while you wait.
Assessment is important if the diagnosis is uncertain, the lesion is very painful, large, bleeding, changing in appearance or spreading quickly. You should also seek professional advice before self-treatment if you have diabetes, reduced circulation or sensation in your feet, a weakened immune system, or another condition that affects healing.
Verruca treatment options
There is no single treatment that works for every verruca, and no treatment can guarantee permanent clearance. Some verrucas respond to a simple first-line approach, while long-standing, recurrent or mosaic verrucas may need a different method or a course of treatment.
Salicylic acid treatment
Salicylic acid is usually the first treatment considered for a straightforward verruca. It is a keratolytic treatment, which means it gradually softens and removes layers of thickened, virus-infected skin.
Treatment normally involves regular application over several weeks. The surrounding healthy skin must be protected, and softened dead skin may need to be removed carefully as directed. Consistency is important: pharmacy treatments can take up to three months and do not always work.
Acid treatment may be suitable for:
- A recent, small or uncomplicated verruca
- Someone who is comfortable following a regular home-treatment routine
- A lesion that is not too painful or extensively spread
- A first treatment before considering clinic-based options
Acid can irritate or burn healthy skin if it is used incorrectly. Do not self-treat without advice if you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced sensation, broken skin or an uncertain diagnosis.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the verruca and damage the affected skin cells. A blister or scab may form afterwards as the treated tissue breaks down and is replaced.
One treatment is not always enough. Sessions are usually separated by a few weeks, and thick, long-standing lesions may need repeated treatment. Cryotherapy can be painful and may cause blistering or temporary changes in skin colour.
Cryotherapy may be considered for:
- A small or clearly defined verruca
- A verruca that has not improved with an adequate course of acid
- Someone who prefers a clinician-delivered treatment instead of daily application
- A lesion whose position and surrounding skin make freezing appropriate
For plantar verrucas, research has not shown cryotherapy to be consistently more effective than salicylic acid, so the choice should take comfort, convenience and previous treatment into account.
Swift microwave treatment
Swift is a clinic-based treatment that delivers short, precisely targeted bursts of microwave energy into the verruca. This produces controlled local heating. The aim is to affect the infected tissue and encourage the body’s immune response to recognise and clear HPV-infected cells.
The application is brief but can produce a sharp heat sensation. There is usually no cut, injection or open wound, and most people can continue normal daily activity after the appointment. A course of treatments may be advised, with time between sessions for the immune response to develop.
Swift may be considered for:
- A persistent or recurrent verruca
- Multiple or mosaic verrucas
- A verruca that has not responded to acid or cryotherapy
- Someone who wants a clinic-based, non-chemical option with little routine aftercare
Evidence for microwave treatment is promising, including for resistant plantar warts, but results vary and clearance cannot be guaranteed.
Podylas S30 laser treatment
The Podylas S30 is a 1064 nm laser used in podiatry. For a verruca, controlled laser energy is directed into the lesion. The aim is to heat and coagulate the wart tissue and the small blood vessels that support it, allowing the treated tissue to break down while limiting damage to surrounding skin.
At Petts Wood Practice, Laser Treatment Podiatry is a 30-minute appointment costing £120 and is available with Emmanuel Acheampong. Suitability is confirmed through podiatry assessment.
Laser treatment can feel hot or uncomfortable, and more than one session may be needed. The number and spacing of treatments depend on the size, depth, location and response of the verruca.
Laser may be considered for:
- A long-standing or painful verruca
- A deeper, thickened or treatment-resistant lesion
- A verruca that has not responded to appropriate first-line care
- A case where assessment suggests targeted laser treatment is suitable
Laser is an escalation option rather than a guaranteed cure. Published evidence for laser treatment is less established than for salicylic acid and cryotherapy, so benefits, discomfort, aftercare and alternatives should be discussed before treatment.
Verruca treatment prices
Choose a treatment below to go straight to the Petts Wood Practice online booking page. Acid treatment and cryotherapy are selected following podiatry assessment, so new patients should book the first podiatry appointment including treatment.
| Treatment | Price | Book online |
|---|---|---|
| Salicylic acid treatment | From £65 First podiatry appointment including assessment and treatment | Book online → |
| Cryotherapy | From £65 First podiatry appointment including assessment and treatment | Book online → |
| Swift microwave treatment | £125 per session | Book Swift → |
| Podylas S30 laser treatment | £120 for 30 minutes | Book laser → |
A course may require more than one appointment. Your podiatrist will explain the recommended plan and expected cost before treatment proceeds.
Which treatment might I need?
Treatment is not determined by “stage” alone, and not everyone needs to work through every option. A typical pathway may look like this:
| Situation | Treatment that may be considered | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small, recent and painless | Monitor, reduce pressure and prevent spread | Many verrucas clear without treatment |
| Small or uncomplicated but bothersome | Salicylic acid | A practical first-line treatment that gradually removes infected skin |
| Acid has been used correctly without improvement, or daily treatment is unsuitable | Cryotherapy or another clinician-applied treatment | Provides a clinic-based tissue-destructive option |
| Persistent, recurrent, multiple or mosaic verrucas | Swift microwave | Targets the lesion with controlled heat and aims to stimulate an immune response |
| Long-standing, painful, thick or resistant verruca | Podylas S30 laser | Provides targeted thermal treatment for selected stubborn lesions |
| Diagnosis uncertain, lesion changing or high-risk medical history | Assessment before any treatment | Another skin condition may need to be excluded and self-treatment may be unsafe |
Sometimes treatments are used in sequence rather than as isolated choices. Your podiatrist will explain why a particular option is being recommended, what improvement should look like, and when it is sensible to change approach.
What happens at a verruca assessment?
Your podiatrist will:
- Examine the lesion and check that it appears consistent with a verruca.
- Review how long it has been present, whether it is painful or spreading, and what has already been tried.
- Ask about relevant health conditions, medication, circulation, sensation and healing.
- Reduce overlying hard skin if this is safe and helpful.
- Explain suitable options, expected discomfort, aftercare, likely number of sessions and alternatives.
Treatment may begin at the same appointment when appropriate, but some lesions should be assessed or referred before treatment.
What results should I expect?
Verrucas can be stubborn. Improvement may be gradual, and even an apparently cleared verruca can recur because HPV may remain in nearby skin. The aim is to restore normal skin lines, reduce pain and remove visible infected tissue without unnecessary scarring.
Follow the aftercare provided, avoid picking the lesion and do not share socks, shoes, towels, pumice stones or nail files. Cover a verruca with a waterproof plaster or verruca sock when swimming, and avoid walking barefoot in communal changing areas.
Frequently asked questions
Are Swift and laser the same treatment?
No. Swift uses microwave energy and aims to create a local thermal and immune response. Podylas uses 1064 nm laser light to deliver targeted heat to the verruca tissue and its blood supply. Your podiatrist can explain which, if either, is appropriate.
Is treatment painful?
Acid can irritate the surrounding skin. Cryotherapy can sting and may blister. Swift produces a brief, sharp heat sensation. Laser can also feel hot or uncomfortable. Sensation varies with the treatment, the site and the individual, so comfort and aftercare will be discussed before proceeding.
How many appointments will I need?
There is no fixed number. Acid requires regular home treatment for several weeks. Cryotherapy, Swift and laser are often delivered as a course with review between sessions. Your response will be checked before further treatment is recommended.
Can a verruca come back?
Yes. No treatment guarantees that a verruca will not recur. Clearance depends partly on the immune system recognising the virus, and a new verruca can also develop after later exposure.
Can children be treated?
Children’s verrucas often clear without treatment. If a lesion is painful, spreading or causing concern, a podiatrist can discuss age-appropriate options. More uncomfortable treatments may not be suitable for every child.
Book a verruca assessment in Petts Wood
If your verruca is painful, spreading, persistent or has not responded to treatment, book a podiatry assessment at Petts Wood Practice. We will confirm the diagnosis, explain the appropriate options and agree a plan with you before treatment.