Warts & Verrucae
Warts and verrucae are common and usually harmless, but they can be uncomfortable, stubborn or simply unwelcome. This page explains what they are, how they spread and how the clinic assesses them before treatment.
Quick answer
Warts and verrucae are small, rough growths on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV); verrucae are warts on the soles of the feet. At Naomi Waite Aesthetics in Lancaster, Advanced Electrolysis is the preferred treatment for suitable lesions, with CryoPen also available, after assessment.
What are warts and verrucae?
Warts are small, rough lumps on the skin. They most often appear on the hands, fingers and knees, although they can develop elsewhere. Verrucae are warts on the soles of the feet; because they are pressed flat by walking, they can feel like a small stone underfoot and are sometimes uncomfortable. Warts can have a rough, cauliflower-like surface, and verrucae often look white, sometimes with a small dark dot in the middle.
Warts and verrucae are common and can affect anyone. They are usually harmless, and many eventually go away on their own, although this can take a long time. People often look for treatment when a wart is painful, persistent, in a visible place or affecting how they feel. A pharmacist can also advise on treatments you can use at home.
Some growths that look like warts need medical review instead of cosmetic treatment. Your practitioner will always assess a lesion before treating it, and warts on the face or genitals, or any growth that bleeds, changes or spreads quickly, should be checked by your GP. If you have diabetes or problems with circulation, speak to your GP or podiatrist before any treatment on your feet.
What causes warts and verrucae?
Warts and verrucae are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus with many different types. The virus affects the top layer of the skin and causes it to grow thicker, forming a wart.
The virus can spread through close skin contact or from surfaces where it has been left. Common routes include:
Not everyone who comes into contact with the virus develops warts, and some people seem more prone to them than others. Covering warts and verrucae, not sharing towels or footwear and wearing flip-flops in communal areas are simple ways to help reduce the spread. If you have a weakened immune system, warts can be more persistent, so mention this at consultation and speak to your GP.
- Communal changing rooms, showers and swimming pool areas, especially for verrucae
- Sharing towels, shoes or socks
- Touching or picking an existing wart, which can spread it to other areas
- Cuts, scratches or damp, softened skin, which may make it easier for the virus to take hold
Related treatments
- Advanced ElectrolysisAdvanced electrolysis is a blemish-removal treatment that uses controlled electrical energy, delivered through a very fine probe, to treat selected superficial blemishes and small vessels. At Naomi Waite Aesthetics in Lancaster it is the preferred route for suitable skin tags, warts and other benign blemishes, once each blemish has been assessed.Find out more
CryoPenCryoPen is a precision cryotherapy device that applies controlled freezing to selected superficial skin lesions. At Naomi Waite Aesthetics in Lancaster it is offered as another option for suitable benign blemishes, such as some skin tags and warts, alongside advanced electrolysis, which is generally the first choice. Every lesion is assessed before treatment.Find out more
Advanced Electrolysis and CryoPen for warts and verrucae at a glance
| Feature | Advanced Electrolysis | CryoPen |
|---|---|---|
| Role at the clinic | Preferred route for suitable lesions | Another available option where suitable |
| What it uses | Controlled electrical energy through a very fine probe | Controlled freezing (cryotherapy) |
| Assessment before treatment | Essential, for every lesion | Essential, for every lesion |
| How the choice is made | At consultation, based on the lesion's type, size and location | At consultation, based on the lesion's type, size and location |
Frequently asked questions
Warts and verrucae are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It spreads through close skin contact or from surfaces such as changing-room floors and shared towels, and damp or broken skin may make it easier to pick up.
Advanced Electrolysis is the clinic's preferred route for suitable warts and verrucae, with CryoPen also available where it suits a particular lesion better. Your practitioner will assess each one first and explain the options, or advise you to see your GP if medical review is more appropriate.
This varies with the size, number and location of your warts or verrucae and how they respond. Some lesions need more than one treatment, and your practitioner will give you a realistic idea at consultation rather than a fixed number.
Comfort varies from person to person and depends on the size and location of the lesion. Your practitioner will explain what the treatment feels like and how comfort is managed before starting.
The treated area goes through a healing process, and how it looks while it settles varies with the lesion and your skin. Your practitioner will give you aftercare advice and explain what to expect, including any tips for treated areas on the feet.
Yes, warts and verrucae can come back, or new ones can appear, even after treatment. Avoiding picking, keeping lesions covered and not sharing towels or footwear can help reduce the chance of spreading, and your practitioner will talk you through aftercare.
Suitability depends on your skin, the individual lesion and your medical history rather than on skin type alone. Your practitioner will assess all of this at consultation before recommending treatment.
Current prices are listed on our prices page. The cost of your plan depends on the number, size and location of your warts or verrucae, and your practitioner will confirm this at consultation before any treatment is booked.
Advanced Electrolysis uses controlled electrical energy delivered through a very fine probe, while CryoPen uses controlled freezing. Advanced Electrolysis is the clinic's preferred route for suitable lesions, with CryoPen as another available option. Your practitioner will recommend one after assessing your wart or verruca.
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