WHAT IS A WART OR VERRUCA? A verruca and a wart are both skin lesions caused by a virus. When these lesions appear on the feet they are typically called a verruca, when they appear elsewhere on the body they are called warts.
WHY DO WARTS LOOK DIFFERENT TO VERRUCAE? Both are caused by a virus but warts tend to appear as hard fleshy growths which grow outwards. By contrast verruca often have a more dense less protruding appearance when the appear on weight-bearing areas. The simple reason for this is that the pressure compresses the lesions preventing them from growing outwards.
CAN WARTS AND VERRUCA BE CONFUSED FOR OTHER SKIN PROBLEMS? Yes, many skin conditions appear very similar and this can lead people to incorrectly treat lesions with home remedies or treatments from the Pharmacy. Your Foot Health Practitioner is trained to recognise a wide range of skin conditions and will be able to determine whether a lesion is a verruca or not.
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEEK ADVICE? It's a good idea to seek advice if: 1 The lesion has not been professionally diagnosed 2 If the lesion changes in shape, size, character or bleeds 3 If you have a lesion which has not resolved within three months 4 If the lesion causes any pain or discomfort