Verruca removal at CoLaz clinics

A verruca, known clinically as verruca plantaris or a plantar wart, is a wart on the sole of the foot caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Because the verruca sits in the thick weight-bearing skin of the sole, it often grows inward under pressure and can be painful when walking. Verrucas are benign but contagious through direct skin contact or shared damp floors such as swimming pools, gym showers and changing rooms. They are not the same strain of HPV that causes genital warts.

We use advanced electrolysis with thermolysis as the precision method. Any thick overlying skin is gently pared down first so the treatment can reach the active verruca itself (something home freeze kits cannot do reliably and a key reason home treatment often fails). The probe tip is then gently inserted into the verruca and a thermolysis current is delivered through the fine needle, treating the lesion in a few minutes. Sessions typically run fifteen to forty-five minutes depending on verruca size and number, and most verrucas clear within around four weeks.

Tap the Send a photo on WhatsApp button at the top of this page. Choose our Reading clinic. WhatsApp opens with a pre-filled message; attach a clear, well-lit close-up of the sole of the foot showing the verruca and send. We may ask one or two follow-up questions (how long it has been there, whether it is painful when walking, whether you have diabetes or any condition affecting circulation) so we can quote you accurately.

If the photo shows a lesion that looks like a corn or callus rather than a verruca, the clinician will explain the difference and recommend a podiatrist. If the lesion has changed in colour, size or shape unexpectedly, bleeds without being knocked, has more than one colour or is pigmented, the clinician will decline to quote and refer you back to your GP. Patients with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease or any condition affecting circulation or sensation in the feet need GP or podiatrist clearance first. Children with verrucas are often managed conservatively because many clear on their own.

Verrucas commonly need two to three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart to clear fully, and stubborn or older verrucas can need more. They are harder to clear than most other warts because they sit deep in the thick skin of the sole and HPV is a persistent virus. Single small verrucas occasionally clear in one session. We confirm the likely number of sessions in your photo quote reply and review the foot at every follow-up.

Scarring is uncommon with advanced electrolysis on the sole of the foot in trained hands, because the method is precise and stays at the lesion. A small pink or pale mark can stay for several weeks while the skin remodels and usually fades by three months. A small permanent mark is possible on larger or deeper verrucas. Patients with a personal or family history of keloid scarring should mention this at consultation so the plan can be adjusted.

Most verrucas clear within around four weeks of in-clinic treatment, with the dead tissue drying and dropping away as the skin heals. Deeper or older verrucas can need follow-up sessions over the following months before they fully clear, and we review the foot at each visit. Most patients return to walking and normal activities the same day, though pressure on the heel or ball of the foot may be tender for a few days.

Keep the treated foot clean and dry, and elevate it for the first few hours after the session if comfortable. Apply the antiseptic balm we provide twice daily for ten to fourteen days, and let the small scab or blister that forms heal naturally rather than picking it. Avoid saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, public showers and intense exercise for forty-eight hours. Between sessions, cover the treated area in pools and communal showers, because HPV can spread to other parts of your own foot or to other people while the lesion is still active.

Verruca removal is priced per verruca, and the price depends on the size, depth and number of verrucas being treated. A single verruca is at the lower end of the range; two or three treated in the same appointment scale up; cluster (mosaic) verrucas or multi-session courses for stubborn cases are quoted higher. Pricing is confirmed per photo quote, in writing, before any treatment is booked. Send a photo on WhatsApp and we reply with a firm price for your specific case within one working day.