Book an appointment today, and our podiatrists will be able to assess, diagnose and treat your verruca using the most appropriate methods.
VERRUCA NEEDLING
Stubborn or painful verrucae may require specialised treatment. A verruca (also known as a plantar wart) is a common, and highly contagious, type of wart that appears on the sole of the foot. Caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), verrucae can be rather persistent and tricky to get rid of.
Did you know?
One of the most effective methods of plantar wart removal is verruca needling. Although the procedure doesn’t sound altogether pleasant, it’s a swift verruca treatment that can put your mind at ease.
WHAT IS VERRUCA NEEDLING?
While a verruca may be visible to the eye, it stays hidden from your immune system, allowing it to survive and spread.
Verruca needling works in a similar way to a vaccination, bringing the plantar wart to the immune system’s attention. Essentially, the treatment involves puncturing the verruca with a fine needle whilst your foot is anaesthetised. This causes bleeding to stimulate the body’s immune system so it can fight the issue
Needling a verruca is a form of auto-implantation, the process of pushing infected particles deeper into an area of higher immune detection and response.
Before undergoing verruca needling treatment, it’s essential to have an initial assessment first. Our foot care professionals will ensure you get the right diagnosis and that the needling technique is appropriate and safe for you.
If you’re worried about a verruca, and want to know more about treatment options, you can contact us to speak to one of our expert podiatrists, or book an appointment with MyFootMedic.
HOW LONG DOES VERRUCA NEEDLING TAKE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM?
Compared to other verruca removal methods, verruca needling is a quick solution. With a recorded success rate of up to 69%, the body will usually resolve the infection within eight weeks of the treatment.
However, results can vary depending on the individual. Some people may find that their immune response is slower and they won’t see results until months after the needling procedure.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VERRUCA NEEDLING?
One major advantage of verruca needling is that you often only need one round of treatment — there’s no need to worry about ongoing topical solutions. This procedure is also suitable for all verrucae, including large verrucas and those that have been present for a long time.
It’s a good option to undertake if other verruca treatments haven’t been successful. If you have multiple verrucae, we’ll usually target the largest — as this triggers your immune response, your body will be able to fight all the verrucae and self-heal.
TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF GETTING A VERRUCA:
Wear shower shoes
in the bathroom and at the swimming pool
Don’t share towels
as this can cause
cross contamination.
Cover any cuts
or blisters with a plaster or dressing.
Change your
tights or socks
on a daily basis
IS IT PAINFUL?
You will have local anaesthetic to numb the area affected by the verruca. Therefore, you won’t experience any pain during the procedure.
Some people may experience a little bruising or discomfort as the anaesthetic wears off, but this is usually mild enough to not require painkillers. Some patients feel minor soreness for one to three days following the treatment. We also recommend avoiding anti-inflammatories as there’s a theoretical chance that they may reduce your body’s immune response to the needling.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING TREATMENT?
After your initial assessment, we’ll book you in for an appointment to carry out the verruca needling procedure.
The first step in the treatment is to numb the affected area with a local anaesthetic injection.
Once numb, we will use a hypodermic needle to puncture the verruca multiple times. This process pushes the virus into the deeper layers of your skin, drawing it to the attention of your body’s immune system. Your immune system can then initiate healing.
After the verruca has been needled, we’ll apply a dry dressing to protect the wound. The needling appointment typically lasts about an hour, and we’ll book in two follow-ups so we can check your progress.
VERRUCA NEEDLING RECOVERY
Because verruca needling involves local anaesthetic, you cannot drive for 24 hours following the appointment. Please arrange alternative transport to get home. The anaesthetic will usually wear off after a couple of hours, but this can vary. As the anaesthetic diminishes, you may experience a small amount of discomfort, but this is usually mild.
We may also recommend a 24-hour rest period after treatment, whereby you might need to keep the needled foot or feet elevated.
Try to keep the dressing dry for at least 24 hours and make sure you don’t receive any other anaesthesia (such as dental injections) for 48 hours after the appointment.
FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS
We’ll book in your two follow-up appointments so we can check the progress of your verrucae — one after a week and one after eight weeks. This will give us an idea of how your immune system has responded to the treatment and whether or not you’ll need a second round.
VERRUCA NEEDLING IN Bedford with MyFootMedic
Our state-of-the-art clinic in Bedford is fully equipped for all your foot care needs. If you’re looking for effective plantar wart removal, you can get in touch with the MyFootMedic team to discuss verruca needling options.
Whether you are a new patient or a regular, you will be advised of our prices and no treatment will be undertaken without your prior consent.
