Verruca pedis is one of the most common conditions we treat in the clinic daily.

It is certainly one of the most Googled foot conditions.

As with everything on the internet there is good and bad sources of information, verruca treatments are no exception.

They go from the sublime, to the ridiculous to the outright dangerous! This post will banish some of the myths and legends of verruca treatment and provide you with the facts on evidence-based verruca treatments.

Facts

• Verrucas come from the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) of which there are lots of varying strains.
• They are opportunistic and most commonly invade the skin on the soles of the feet if there is an abrasion or a cut in the skin surface.
• The virus is most caught on shared surfaces such as swimming pool tiles, shower trays and gym changing room floors. It can also be transferred by skin-to-skin contact.
• The incubation period of a verruca is thought to range from a couple of months to over a year.
• Most interestingly they can clear spontaneously without any treatment, however, they can also be persistent for years.
• For some people they can be very painful or for others pain free.
• Despite what you might read, there isn’t one single treatment that guarantees resolution. As with every virus you can also catch it again.

This is where the myths and legends begin!

I would like to dispel some of the most suggested treatments, I have read online and explain why these treatments are not feasible.

Duct Tape

The evidence is poor for using duct tape on verruci, although masking the verruca can reduce the pain. One of the main reasons we don’t always recommend this is Duct Tape is an industrial use tape, it has not been designed for use on the skin. As a result, it has been known to cause irritation and even topical dermatitis in some patients.

Picking Out The Black Dots

The black dots are the verruca’s blood vessels and as previously mentioned, causing the verruca to bleed can lead to spreading. Not all verruci have black dots and picking those can get the virus around your nails.

Warts Have Roots

They don’t.  Warts and verruci are a result of rapid growth of the top layer of the skin.  If they seem to be deep, it’s only because they are displacing other layers.

Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Oil, Vicks Vapour Rub, Tea Tree Oil, Banana Peel

There is no clinical evidence to suggest any of these treatments will help treat your verruca, they will however make your foot smell strange!

Cutting Them Out

Verruci can be reduced using a foot file.  Reducing the hard skin on top is not the same as cutting it out! Be aware that picking or scratching the verruca can cause it to bleed and spread more easily.  Cutting it out involves local anaesthetic as it is a minor procedure.

So, as you can see there are a lot of proposed miracle cures out there on the internet but unfortunately few of these, have any scientific evidence behind them. It is a case of please don’t believe everything you read on the internet. However, there are treatments that are backed up by scientific research and these are the treatments we choose to use in our clinic. These include:

• Swift Microwave Therapy
• Verruca Needling or Electrosurgery
• Cryotherapy
• Acid Treatments such as Verrutop and Salicylic Acid

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We also offer treatments for nails, hard skin, ingrown toenails, and advice for people with Diabetes. With our expertise and experience, you will have full peace of mind when it comes to your foot health.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

Thank you for reading,
Faye Vogiatzoglou

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Myths and Legends About Verrucas appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

WHAT IS SWIFT® AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Swift is a new technology, developed in the UK in 2016. Swift uses microwave energy through a special probe applied to the skin to treat your verruca. The microwave energy is delivered directly to the verruca at a predetermined depth. This means that, unlike other treatments, there is no damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. It heats the skin by around 4 degrees, targeting the water molecules and destroying the infected viral cells.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?

Verruca resolution is not a quick process, not if you want the right treatment. The truth is that 3 out of 4 patients require at least 3 swift treatments at 4-week intervals. In some cases, less treatment sessions are required.
Each case is different, and that’s why we always tailor our services according to your needs. Also don’t expect to see immediate results. Most verruci clear at least 3-4 months after the last swift application. Some podiatrists experienced cases which had taken a year after the final swift treatment.

IS IT WORTH IT?

In my opinion, YES!
The main benefit is that there is no need for any anaesthetic or dressings or keeping your foot dry, and you can continue to your normal activities straight away. It is safe and fast. It has a high success rate in comparison to other treatments.

DOES SWIFT® IT HURT?

I’ll be honest, I’ve undergone this treatment myself and it does sting intensely for a short burst of up to 2 seconds. It is not for the feint hearted. It is like the feeling of a hot needle against your skin for up to 2 seconds. But it only lasts for up to 2 seconds!

WHO CAN USE SWIFT?

Because of the intense bursts of pain, I don’t tend to recommend this treatment on children, especially on anyone under the age of 12, although some kids are braver than adults! Your Podiatrist will carry out an assessment prior to treatment and be able to advise if you are eligible.

HOW MUCH DOES SWIFT® COST?

Swift Treatment costs are £145 per session or £410 for a package of 3 treatments (includes up to 2 follow up reviews) or £750 for a package of 6 treatments (includes up to 2 follow up reviews).

At Medipod Clinics we are very experienced when it comes to managing verrucas. As well as keeping up to date with the latest research and new treatments, we always try to give you the information and tools you need to keep your feet healthy.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We also offer treatments for nails, hard skin, ingrown toenails, and advice for people with Diabetes. With our expertise and experience, you will have full peace of mind when it comes to your foot health.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

Thank you for reading,

Faye Vogiatzoglou
http://medipodclinics.com/

The post What is SWIFT® and how does it work? appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

There are many treatments for verrucas such as over the counter medicaments, freezing treatments, application of acids and surgical options. We will discuss how all of these relate to you and your feet.

Verrucas are viral infections of the skin and can be very persistent to treatment.  That is because they can hide very successfully from your immune system.

Verruca treatments vary according to age of the patient, their medical history and the history of the verruca. What works for your 5-year old daughter will not always work for your 40-year old sister. We suggest discussing your case with a podiatrist, who will be able to advise you on this.

We have pulled together our top 5 tips about verruca treatments below:

Medipod Clinics: Verruca management

1. Over the counter treatments tend to be suitable for young children. They are safe to use and is unlikely that will cause discomfort to your child. Teenagers and adults may not respond at all to any of the over the counter options.
2. Although there is no evidence linking your immune system to verrucas, my personal recommendation is to boost your immunity with specific diet supplements. From my experience, I found that a multivitamin is just not good enough as it gives you a little bit of everything, rather than the desired levels of specific vitamins that your body needs. I often recommend that you get some probiotics tablets from a health shop with a high content of cultures. A sugary, small bottle of yogurt from the supermarket is not sufficient.  If your gut is more balanced, then, your immune system is stronger to fight off any viral infections present.
3. Freezing treatments may not work if there is hard skin over the verruca or if the freezing agent is not cold enough. Over the counter freezing sprays are at a temperature of -50 degrees Celsius, whereas freezing treatments in a clinical setting are around -169 degrees Celsius! Podiatrists are trained to use liquid nitrogen at this temperature to treat your verruca. Your verruca will blister (or form a scab) and you will need to return to the clinic for reviews. You will most likely need a course or freezing treatments to clear your verrucas.
4. Stress plays a major role on the success of your treatment. Reducing your stress levels will improve the success of your treatment.
5. Surgical options such as electrosurgery and needling may work better than freezing methods or acids. Latest research suggests that needling verrucas under local anaesthetic, can lead to complete resolution of your verruca faster than applying an acid over a period of a few weeks.

At Medipod Clinics we are very experienced when it comes to managing verrucas. As well as keeping up to date with the latest research and new treatments, we always try to give you the information and tools you need to keep your feet healthy.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We also offer treatments for nails, hard skin and advice for people with Diabetes. With our expertise and experience, you will have full peace of mind when it comes to your foot health.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

Thank you for reading,

Faye Vogiatzoglou
medipodclinics.com

The post Top 5 Tips about Verruca Management appeared first on Medipod Clinics.