How to Treat Plantar Warts Safely and Effectively

If you have noticed lumps on the skin of your feet that feel uncomfortable or look unsightly, you are not alone. At Quantum Footcare, plantar warts, also known as verrucas, are one of the most common reasons people come to the clinic.

This guide will explore what verrucas are, why they appear, how they can affect your foot health, and why professional treatments like Verrutop® and verruca needling are often the most successful way to remove them.

Foot showing a cluster of small, flat verrucae (mosaic warts) beneath the little toe, with a rough, grainy surface typical of viral infection. — **Mosaic Verruca under the 5th MTPJ**
*Clustered mosaic verrucas beneath the 5th metatarsophalangeal joint, affecting a low-pressure, non-weightbearing area of the forefoot.*

Close-up view of the bottom of the heel, showing dry, thickened skin with visible cracks and callus build-up. — **Cluster of Verrucas on the Heel**
*A dense, raised cluster of verrucas on the heel with overlying callus—located in a high-pressure area, often contributing to thickened skin and discomfort.*

What Is a Verruca or Plantar Warts?

A verruca is a wart that develops on the sole of the foot, usually appearing as a rough, thickened patch of skin with tiny black dots (which are often small, clotted blood vessels). Unlike warts on the hands, verrucas are flattened because of pressure from standing and walking.

Why Do Verruca/Plantar Warts Form?

These lumps are caused by infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The virus enters through tiny breaks in the skin and triggers excessive production of skin cells. Over time, this results in a rough, often painful lesion.

It thrives in warm, damp environments, such as communal showers and swimming pool areas.

Because verrucas live inside the skin layers, the immune system often struggles to recognise and clear them without help.

Who Gets Plantar Warts?

Anyone can develop verrucas, but they are more common if you:

Spend time barefoot in communal areas
Have small cuts or cracked skin
Have a weakened immune system
Have diabetic foot changes reducing protective sensation

**HPV Infection Process in the Skin**
Illustration showing how the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) enters the skin through small cuts or abrasions, infects the basal layer of the epidermis, and leads to the development of verrucas as the virus stimulates abnormal skin cell growth.

How Do Plantar Warts Affect Your Daily Life?

Pain and Pressure

Even small verrucas can feel like stepping on a pebble. Pressure can force the wart deeper, causing pain during walking or standing.

Changes in Walking Pattern

Painful verrucas can cause you to shift your weight away from the sore area, leading to changes in walking and standing.

Over time, this can place extra strain on the joints and soft tissues of the foot and ankle.

In children, avoiding pressure on a verruca can result in limping and altered foot posture, sometimes triggering discomfort in the knees or hips.

In adults, long-standing verrucas may contribute to overloading adjacent areas, increasing the risk of callus, corns, or heel pain.

Impact on Foot Health

For patients with a diabetic foot, any area of pressure is especially risky. Even a minor verruca increases the chance of skin breakdown or ulceration.

**High-Pressure Area Leading to Ulceration in a Diabetic Foot**
*Image highlighting a plantar ulcer in a diabetic foot, located over a high-pressure area—demonstrating the impact of repetitive stress and reduced protective sensation on skin breakdown.*

Why I Advise Against High-Strength Over-the-Counter Treatments

While it is tempting to try pharmacy products, especially those with high-percentage salicylic acid, there are several reasons I don’t recommend them:

Damage to healthy skin: These acids can burn the surrounding area, causing pain, redness, or even open wounds.
Limited immune response: They don’t reliably trigger your immune system to clear the virus, which is why verrucas often return.
Risk for vulnerable feet: If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or reduced feeling in your feet, even small burns can lead to serious complications.
Prolonged use with low success: Daily application for months is often needed, and results are inconsistent.

For safer, more effective care, professional treatments like Verrutop® and needling are far superior and tailored to your foot health.

Treatment Options at Quantum Footcare

Verrucas can be stubborn. While some resolve spontaneously, others linger for years. The good news is that several treatments can help stimulate your immune system or destroy the viral tissue.

Quantum Footcare provides evidence-based treatment options tailored to each patient’s needs and health status. The two most effective methods are Verrutop® and verruca needling.

1.1 Verrutop® (Nitric‑Zinc Topical Treatment)

Verrutop is a topical solution containing a nitric-zinc complex, designed to break down infected skin gently but effectively.

How does it work?

The solution is applied directly to the verruca. It chemically denatures viral proteins and dries out the tissue, allowing it to slough off over time. Typically, treatments are spaced at 1-2 week intervals, depending on the response.

What to expect:

The area usually becomes white or discoloured after application. Mild stinging can occur but settles quickly. You can walk as normal and continue daily activities.

Recovery:

Treated skin will gradually peel away. Most people require several sessions. Success depends on the size, depth, and how long the verruca has been present.

**Verrutop® Application for Verruca Treatment**
*Clinical application of Verrutop® solution to a plantar verruca, targeting infected tissue with a nitric-zinc complex to dry and denature the lesion safely.*

1.2. Verruca Needling

Also known as Falknor’s needling, this dry needling method provokes a targeted immune response. Under local anaesthetic, a fine needle punctures the verruca repeatedly until slight bleeding occurs. This introduces HPV-infected cells into deeper, immune-active layers to boost clearance. Generally, one session is sufficient, with follow‑ups to assess response and monitor healing.

Verruca needling has shown some of the highest success rates among professional treatments, with studies reporting clearance rates between 69% and 85% after one or two sessions. In a UK case series involving 46 adults, 69% experienced complete resolution after a single procedure. Another smaller study showed up to 85% clearance, with some patients also seeing resolution in untreated, distant verrucas suggesting a systemic immune response. These outcomes make needling a strong option for persistent or treatment-resistant verrucas.

Clinical image showing verruca needling procedure on the sole of the foot, with a sterile needle being used to puncture the verruca lesion under local anaesthetic. — **Verruca Needling Technique with 8-Week Resolution**
*Post-treatment result following verruca needling, showing full resolution of the lesion within 8 weeks after a single session aimed at stimulating a targeted immune response.*

**Verruca Needling Case Resolved After Two Treatments**
*Successful resolution of a persistent plantar verruca following two sessions of needling, with complete clearance observed during follow-up.*

How Do These Treatments Compare?

*Feature*	*Verrutop®*	*Verruca Needling*
Anaesthetic Required?	No	Yes
Sessions Required	3-6	1-2
Success Rate	High for smaller lesions	Highest for chronic lesions
Downtime	Minimal	Mild soreness up to 7 days
Ideal for	Smaller verrucas, children	Persistent, deep, painful verrucas

Comparing Verrutop® and Needling

When Should You Seek Professional Foot Treatment?

You should seek professional foot treatment if you notice any persistent lump on the skin, especially if it becomes increasingly painful, starts to grow or spread, changes in colour, or is accompanied by new lesions elsewhere. It’s also important to get assessed if the lesion begins to interfere with your walking, exercise, or daily activities. Early intervention can prevent further complications and ensure the most appropriate treatment plan is put in place.

How to Reduce the Risk of Recurrence

Once the verruca has been treated, you can reduce the risk of it returning or spreading by:

Keeping feet clean and dry
Wearing flip-flops in communal showers and swimming pools
Avoiding picking or scratching warts
Changing socks daily
Covering any lesions with a plaster if you have a diabetic foot

Regular visits to your foot clinic for check-ups can also help you maintain healthy skin and nails.

Why Choose Professional Care at Quantum Footcare?

You’ll receive a thorough assessment to confirm diagnosis and advice on all treatment options.
We tailor professional treatments to your needs, focusing on safety and efficacy.
You benefit from expert aftercare and monitoring to preserve long-term foot health.
Our treatments are safe, evidence-based protocols for verruca removal.

Common Questions About Verruca/ Plantar Warts Removal

Is Verruca Needling Painful?

You won’t feel the needling itself because the area is fully numbed. Mild aching afterward is normal.

How Soon Will I See Results?

It is possible. Once your body has been exposed to the HPV virus, it can remain in your system quietly, even after a verruca has cleared. While many people develop immunity over time, the virus may reactivate or cause new lesions, especially if your immune system is compromised or the skin is re-exposed to trauma or infection. This means there is always a chance the verruca could return, potentially even in the same spot. That said, recurrence isn’t inevitable. Good aftercare such as protecting the area, avoiding picking, keeping feet clean and dry, and reducing pressure can significantly reduce the risk of it returning. While no treatment can offer a 100% guarantee, professional verruca removal, especially through needling or Verrutop®, provides the best chance of long-term resolution.

What If I Have a Diabetic Foot?

In patients with diabetes, verruca treatment must be approached with caution. Reduced sensation or circulation can increase the risk of skin damage and delayed healing. I generally avoid treating verrucas in diabetic feet unless is absolutely necessary. If treatment is required, it will only be carried out under close supervision, with adapted methods and careful aftercare to ensure the skin remains protected.