Verruca are caused by viruses from the papillomavirus family. Their penetration through microcracks in the skin will cause cells to multiply in a given location. A small, characteristic growth then forms. These viruses are contagious through direct contact with an infected person or through dander. A few months pass between the moment of contagion and the appearance of the Verruca. 

Are you worried about how to remove a Verruca that is also spread by self-contagion from one body part to another? Seventy per cent of Verruca disappear spontaneously within two years, but some can persist longer. Eradication of the virus is rarely possible, and recurrence of warts is common.

What is commonly referred to as warts is medically known as “verruca.” There are various types of warts. Such as common warts and seborrheic keratosis, which we will introduce below. Warts are skin diseases that can occur regardless of age or gender, and the leading causes are viral infections and ageing.

How is Verruca recognised?

Verruca appear as small, hard growths on the skin. They generally do not exceed the size of a pinhead, but some can reach the size of a pea. There are different types of Verruca. The most common are Verruca, yellowish grey growths with an irregular surface forming, especially on the fingers and the back of the hand. They grow singly or in groups. Plantar Verruca appears on the soles of the feet and penetrates deeply. They can be very aching and make walking difficult.

What does a Verruca look like?

Common Verruca is a single or multiple raised hemispherical lesion whose volume varies from millimetres to 1 cm. They are located mainly on the backs of the hands and fingers. They can also be located on the periphery of the nails and can cause abnormalities in the nails. It can be excruciating in this area.

The causes of Verruca

Suppose the responsibility of the papillomavirus in the occurrence of skin warts is well established. Its mechanism of action in the proliferation of warts still needs to be better understood. There are approximately 120 types of HPV responsible for different lesions. These are ubiquitous viruses. They are frequently found on the surface of the skin of many individuals without causing any lesions. The proportion of healthy carriers is therefore estimated at at least 50%. Due to a skin breakage that is often tiny and goes unnoticed most of the time, the virus will infect the epidermis cells. Keratinocyte sometimes leads to its proliferation responsible for skin excrescence. Certain diseases that weaken the epidermis can also promote the development of warts.

The ageing factor for Verruca

Other causes of Verruca include ageing and ultraviolet rays. Around 30, people may develop “neck Verruca” or “seborrheic keratosis.”  It can cause discomfort when rubbed against a shirt or jewellery collar. It prevents the onset of the illness; sunscreen can reduce damage from ultraviolet rays since the disease tends to occur more in obese people. Your daily diet can also help prevent the disease.

For the above reasons, it can be worrying when various Verruca types appear. This is because there are many cases. Where benign Verruca is mistaken for malignant tumours, which look very similar because it can be difficult to distinguish between them by shape and appearance, we will introduce you to benign Verruca and malignant tumours. So please use this as a reference to check your own Verruca.

Three stages of genital warts infection

Genital warts are a disease with a high incidence rate. The lesions are often in private parts. If not treated in time, it may induce cancer. What makes patients more worried is that genital warts are prone to recurrence. Often, new lesions appear just after they are cured. Why is this? How can we treat it to eradicate it and prevent it from recurring? Genital warts are often hidden very deeply. When the patient can see the warts of genital warts with the naked eye, the damaged area is already in the third stage of infection. At this time, other places with skin damage not visible to the naked eye do not mean they are not infected with the HPV virus. They may be in the first or second stage of infection. They often become slippery fish, making it difficult to cure genital warts at once, and the disease is prone to recurrence.

There are three stages of infection with genital warts.

• The first stage is latent infection, with no clinical and microscopic skin and mucosal changes.
• The second stage is a subclinical infection, with microscopic skin and mucosal changes but genital warts that are not visible to the naked eye.
• The third stage is typical HPV infection, with typical genital warts, skin and mucosal damage visible to the naked eye, and apparent warts.

Causes and Treatment Options

This type of Verruca is particularly prevalent among young women. It is characterised by a pale brown colour similar to a blemish. It often appears on the hands and other areas and has a smooth, protruding surface. It is caused by the same thing as “common Verruca” and is caused by the HPV virus. Both types of warts can spread to other areas or be transmitted to others, so they must be treated early.

This type of wart is caused by ageing, also known as senile Verruca. It is a benign tumour that is brown or blackish-brown in colour and tends to develop on the head and face. They tend to increase with age, and the spots can become raised and turn into warts. Seborrheic keratosis is benign and does not need treatment. But if it bothers you, it can be removed through treatment.

The mechanisms of wart development are still understood.

We do not know today why these papillomaviruses. So, it is present on the skin of many individuals. It will be responsible for developing skin cancer in some people and not others. A susceptibility / a genetic and immune background is (are) mentioned. Likewise, when the papillomavirus penetrates the epidermal cell, it can take advantage of the standard multiplication of keratinocytes.

Thus, it can be expelled to the surface of the skin. It remains in a latency state, that is to say, asleep within the keratinocyte and wakes up one day. Thanks to stress, a deficit in the body’s defences, and then begin a “productive cycle.” We still do not know today what conditions “the productive cycle.” But the “latency” and “resurgence” of the virus after several years of latency. Finally, papillomaviruses seem specific to humans. The main virus reservoir is humans carrying warts. We do not know how to explain the contamination of certain professionals. For example, it can be done by handling meat, poultry, or fish.

Symptoms, Characteristics, and Diagnosis

Verruca vulgaris is a type of wart that often appears on the fingers and soles of the feet. After a slight rash appears, it grows into a wart-like bump, which can range in mass from a grain of rice to the size of a thumb. As infected skin cells grow, the skin’s surface becomes thick, hard, flaky, and bumpy. It may also become pigmented and turn black or brownish.

It is usually not painful or itchy, but if the verruca appears on the sole or toes of the foot and is raised. It may be sore when pressed when walking. It cannot be easy to distinguish from calluses and corns, which also tend to appear on the soles of the feet. Yet, in the case of viral Verruca, the blood vessels on the surface increase. The area turns reddish-black. Therefore, if you see black dots inside the wart, it will likely be verruca vulgaris. But it would help if you visited a dermatologist for a correct diagnosis.

Characteristics and Prevention Strategies

This Verruca is only a few millimetres but can grow to about 2 cm in rare cases. It often appears on the fingers and toes and is a small, flat, raised bump. Although it is not painful, it may itch if it occurs in an area that is rubbed. It may keratinise, turn greyish, and become large and rough to the touch. It is caused by the virus HPV entering through a wound on the skin.

Viral infections cause Verruca. Many types of viruses cause them. But the most common are infections with HPV, such as “common Verruca” and “juvenile flat Verruca.” It is necessary to avoid creating cuts and hangnails and to protect the skin. It is also essential to maintain a robust immune system.

Immunomodulatory Therapies to Preventive Vaccination

immunomodulatory treatments, the principle of which would be to try to trigger an immune reaction capable of eliminating HPV viruses. Preventive vaccination against HPV viruses like that offered to young girls at puberty. It’s in the first year after first sexual intercourse to prevent the occurrence of genital vascular cancer. There are several physical methods to get rid of Verruca. All are more or less painful and may sometimes require local anaesthesia. The diagnosis of skin Verruca is, above all, a clinical diagnosis. In most cases, there is no need to perform a biopsy or other test. But, biopsies may be necessary in the event of atypical lesions. Ulcerative lesions could be confused with certain forms of cancer.

Watch out for ulcerated Verruca.

A plantar Verruca is the site of chronic ulceration and an ulcerated periungual Verruca. Verruca modifying the nail must be the subject of a biopsy to drop a cancerous lesion. The impossibility of eradicating the virus explains the frequency of recurrences. Sometimes, the feeling of discouragement is experienced in the face of treatments that are perceived as effective. The spontaneous disappearance of the lesions within two years may justify therapeutic abstention. The patient accepts the aesthetic damage. Skin Verruca most often regresses within two years. In some instances, the lesions can persist for several years in children and adults. No other consequence than aesthetic damage is the main factor motivating the treatment use. 

It remains symptomatic to date. No treatment currently allows the eradication of the virus. The therapeutic goal. So, it boils down to the pure and simple destruction of visible lesions by various methods. None of which has demonstrated its long-term superiority compared to the others. There is currently no recommendation favouring one method over another. One can start with one or the other technique and move from one to the other.

As the virus cannot be eliminated definitively and can persist in the peri-lesional area, recurrences are frequent. It is expected to experience a feeling of discouragement. The relative ineffectiveness of the proposed treatments. Given the spontaneously favourable evolution of the lesions, therapeutic abstention can sometimes be proposed. In adults, ulcerated plantar or periungual lesions that may appear as warts must motivate a consultation with a dermatologist to eliminate skin cancer. The therapeutic management of which is then naturally radically different.

Is laser treatment effective?

Verruca, which appears on the hands and soles of the feet due to viruses, is challenging to cure, so it is necessary to continue treatment patiently. Some people may hesitate to see a doctor because the treatment is long-term, but effective laser treatments have been introduced in recent years. Here, we will explain the causes of viral warts and the treatment methods you may be concerned about.

Laser treatment for stubborn viral warts

Cryotherapy is the standard treatment for viral Verruca. There is a concern that it is somewhat painful during and after treatment. In addition, the treatment mentioned above needs to be improved in the case of large and deep Verruca. There are cases where the Verruca is not cured even after several years of treatment. In such cases, laser treatment is an option. There are two typical methods. The first is a treatment method that uses a laser that reacts to blood pigments to damage the blood vessels that nourish the Verruca. Treatment is continued about once a month for about two to five months.

The second step is to remove the Verruca using a carbon dioxide laser. After treatment, a depression will appear in the skin as if the Verruca had been carved out. So you must apply ointment and protect it with gauze for 3 to 4 weeks until the wound dies. The probability of recovery in one go is 70 to 80%, but it is a method that completes the treatment. Both methods are painful, but they are performed under local anaesthesia. This method is reassuring if you are suffering from Verruca. It is challenging to cure or want to complete the treatment.

If you suspect you have viral Verruca, the quickest way to recover is to receive a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment and remove it as soon as possible. If you have any Verruca that concerns you, we recommend that you consult a dermatologist.

Cryotherapy method

This is the most widespread method due to its ease of use and low cost. It consists of the local application of liquid nitrogen, either using a cotton swab on the lesion for around ten seconds or spraying using a spray. It is a method that can be effective from the first session. Still, it is often necessary to repeat the operation several times to obtain the complete disappearance of the lesions.

Electrocoagulation

Based on the use of an electric scalpel, this old technique has yet to have any sign today, given the other methods proposed and the risks of scarring.

Surgical curettage

it remains reserved for single or pedunculated large lesions. There is a risk of painful scarring.

CO 2 laser vaporisation

This expensive method leaves a scar in 50% of cases, as vapours containing viral particles are formed with electrocoagulation. Therefore, contaminating requires effective suction and protection of the face of the patient and the doctor.

Chemical methods for Verruca 

Keratolytic preparations based on salicylic acid are associated with concentrations varying from 10 to 60%. Neither lactic acid nor trichloroacetic acid can be applied daily under an occlusive ( dead ) dressing for some time. Two weeks to thin out and “strip” the Verruca, especially if they are thick.

When should I return to see the dermatologist after treatment?

Whether they have been destroyed by a physical method or a chemical process, it is recommended that the patient return to see the dermatologist 3 to 4 weeks later to ensure the excellent progress of the treatment and the proper healing of the lesions. It is not uncommon for extra sessions to be offered due to incomplete disappearance of the lesions. Monthly follow-up by the dermatologist is recommended until the lesions disappear.

Complications linked to treatments

Destructive treatments for Verruca result in skin necrosis that can cause ulceration and superinfection. Local disinfectant treatment is generally sufficient, with systemic antibiotic treatment remaining exceptional and reserved for the most severe cases.

What about homoeopathy, bonesetters, and magnetisers?

The limits of traditional medicine in treating skin Verruca leave room for less conventional methods and alternative therapies. It may be effective even if the latter must be documented and validated. Many people thus try homoeopathic and phytotherapeutic treatments, magnetisers, and bonesetters. Sometimes with relative effectiveness, without forgetting. However, the natural evolution of Verruca is usually their spontaneous disappearance with or without treatment.

Verruca carriers are not plague victims.

Although skin Verruca is contagious, the risk of human-to-human contamination remains low. Thus, there is no risk of “catching Verruca” by shaking someone’s hand with Verruca. Within a family, isolating the dishes or laundry of a child with Verruca is useless, even penalising. Remember that the papillomavirus is a ubiquitous virus present on the surface of the skin of more than 50% of people.

Some tips to follow after treatment

Rigorous hygiene is used to limit secondary infections. The main complication of destructive treatments is secondary infection. It is recommended that the treated areas be washed regularly and carefully, particularly the hands, after removing the lesions.

Pierce and evacuate the bleeding bubble if necessary. Treatments using liquid nitrogen often cause a blister full of blood, which can be painful. It is then advisable to puncture the bubble with a previously heated needle to evacuate the fluid content, whether bloody or not, and to thoroughly disinfect the wound. There are not any treatments that remove a veccurra overnight. The primary source of contagion is skin lesions due to epidermal scales disseminated in the environment. Transmission between individuals most often occurs by direct skin contact, favoured by epidermal breaks or skin drying. It is therefore recommended to avoid skinning or scratching Verruca to limit the risk of spreading the virus. The contaminating areas are neighbouring the initial lesion. Furthermore, as the papillomavirus is particularly fond of humid environments and maceration areas, drying your feet when leaving the pool is recommended. The benefit of wearing plastic shoes has yet to be demonstrated.

What makes us who we are?

Revitalise London Dermatology Clinic 22 Harley Road, Maryleb and Westfield Mall, Stratford. The team consists of nurses and doctors. Scientists are committed to helping you tailor a preventive health diagnostic strategy so you may achieve your aims and enjoy life to the fullest. The goal of the Verruca team is to give every one of our customers the safest and most enjoyable experience possible. We have developed nine specific formulations to meet your particular needs.

Conclusion

Some Verruca can grow if left untreated, and the larger they get. The more difficult it becomes to treat them cleanly. Therefore, if you are concerned about Verruca, we recommend consulting a plastic surgeon as soon as possible and removing it. The most important thing for malignant tumours is early detection and early treatment. Please refer to this article and come to the hospital immediately if you have any Verruca that concerns you. Our clinic will explain the examination results and treatment methods according to the patient’s condition. We will provide the best treatment while placing importance on informed consent. It can be treated like a day surgery, even a cyst. If you have any concerns about Verruca, please get in touch with us.