What is a verruca?

Verrucae  can be silent as lambs or roar like lions!  You may not know you have them. You may have been looking at something strange on your foot for weeks, which didn't appear to change at all, or there may be 'craters' all over both feet which appeared alarmingly 'overnight'! It is generally accepted that verrucae are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).  They are  contracted through skin that is very wet  and/or through tiny cuts or fissures in the skin. Often, they are transmitted from walking on an infected, wet surface or towel. The virus can be present for weeks before anything is apparent on the surface of the skin.  Even then, it may appear almost dormant, or it can spread rapidly and many lesions are apparent.  A verruca is a wart which develops inwardly due to the pressure on the sole of the foot.  It can occur anywhere on the foot and on areas which take less pressure on walking, such as the tip of the toes. In these places, it will appear more wart like and have a cauliflower appearance. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between a verruca and a corn. There are often small black dots in the centre of a verruca, which are small 'petechiae' or bleeding points. They bleed easily when scratched. If you look very closely at a verruca, the striations or lines on the skin tend to go around the virus.  If you have acorn, these lines will stop at the corn and continue again, beyond it A good diagnostic test for a verruca is to squeeze it from either side. If there is a 'pricking' sensation, then it is almost definitely a verruca. Don't be alarmed if there are suddenly many verrucae all over your feet, they don't necessarily take any longer to go away than if you only have one lesion. You may also find that you develop warts on your hands at the same time. Seek advice if you are worried about your verrucae and opt for treatment if they are painful. In any case, cover your verrucae when you are at the poolside or in the shower. Wipe the tray around after you have used it and stick to your own towel. This prevents spreading it to other house members who will point the finger and ostracise you in an instant!                                                        YouTube video here