Verruca

Things that affect the decision to treat verrucas

When a podiatrist or chiropodist assesses a verruca for treatment, they take several factors into consideration.

Single, multiple or mosaic:

Verrucas this can occur singularly, there can be many of them scattered over the foot and toes or they can spread from a single one giving a "mosaic" of verrucas. A podiatrist or chiropodist will assess how many and the pattern of verrucas to decide on the feasibility and appropriateness of treatment.

Pain:

Pain in a verruca on standing or wearing footwear, is a major factor into whether treatment is necessary. Whether a verruca is painful not depends largely on its position. Those on weight-bearing areas are often more painful. In addition, those overlying bony prominences are also likely to be more painful.

Age:

As the treatment of verrucas involves destruction of the verruca cells, treatments usually involve acids or extremes of heat or cold. In the young, it is essential that treatments are chosen that a more gentle so as to avoid any and you pain or distress.

Position:

The position of the verruca influences what treatment is given, and how aggressive that treatment is. Verrucas on the thickened skin on the sole of the foot, particularly the weight-bearing areas, can tolerate more aggressive treatment and require stronger methods.


Conversely, those on the thinner skin on the upper foot require more gentle and less aggressive treatment to achieve the same results.

Skin condition:

A chiropodist podiatrist will assess the skin condition before choosing a treatment regime. In particular, dry skins need less aggressive treatments and so podiatrist and chiropodists are careful when treating people with dry skin.

General health:

The general health of the patient is assessed carefully. Patients who have diabetes or poor blood supply to their feet require special attention. If the blood supply is particularly at risk, one may opt for a homoeopathic or very an aggressive treatments. As with all medical care, it is essential not to cause harm.


Dry Needling 


Dry needling is an innovative and highly effective treatment for stubborn  verrucae. Most treatments, like freezing, burning, or chemical caustics work by creating a thermal or chemical burn in and around the verruca. This increases the chance of the verruca resolving by creating lots of inflammation and swelling around the area.

Dry needling is different. By disrupting each individual papilli in the verruca and creating a portal from the viral tissue to the adipose tissue, It allows the immune system to attack the lesion directly. In this way treating a single lesion  can cause spontaneous remission in any / all satellite lesions. It has been reported to be highly effective, even for longstanding lesions of ten years or more and has been effective when other treatments have failed.

Unlike treatments like caustics, which can need dozens of applications to be effective (involving considerable inconvenience and cost), dry needling only requires one, very occasionally two, applications making ideal for busy people. It also requires no bulky dressing to be left on, you can go swimming the next day if you like!

It is carried out painlessly under local anesthetic and most people report only minor soreness for a few days.

Dry Needling has been around for 40 years. It was first described in a medical journal in America in 1969 and is used routinely on that side of the Atlantic. It has only recently crossed the water, which is why very few Podiatrists offer it.
If you have a verruca you had given up on ever getting rid of, don't waste any more money at the chemist! Call for an assessment appointment now and sort it out once and for all!

Nail Surgery

Ingrown toenails are often caused by injury or poor nail cutting. They are often associated with increased cross sectional curvature (involution) of the nail plate, which causes the nail edges to press into the flesh more easily. Very often the edge of the nail can be removed and prevented from regrowing by excising the section of tissue containing the nail matrix.

Prior to surgery

On the morning before the procedure you can eat and drink normally unless you are having sedation or a general anaesthetic (refer to separate advice sheet), as local anaesthetics have no effect on your digestive system. If you have been ill or prescribed any new medication from a Doctor or Dentist following your initial assessment at the Hospital, please inform a member of staff on the day you attend for surgery.

It will be necessary to arrange for a lift home following the procedure as it is not advisable to drive for the rest of the day. Also bring a pair of sandals or slippers to accommodate the large dressing that you will have on your toe for the first 3 - 5 days.

Following the surgery

Directly following the surgery it is important to get home and be able to rest. To reduce discomfort you should keep your leg raised and take it easy for the rest of the day. Should you experience discomfort you can take your usual headache tablet as directed on the packet, and if persistent a bag of frozen peas rapped in a towel can be place over the ankle for 10 minutes per hour.

It is also important to keep the dressing dry until you attend for your first re-dressing. Once this has been carried out you will be taught how to care for your toe until healing has completed. However you will not be discharged from our care until we are happy that the area is fully healed and you are happy with the result.