Best Verruca Treatments What is a Verruca? A Verruca is a small lump of hard skin, also known as a plantar wart, that grows on the sole of the foot. Verrucae typically appear as a small black dot beneath the surface of the skin with hard skin growing on top. They can be painful, especially when standing; the sensation is often compared to walking on a needle. Verrucae are quite common and most people will experience one at some point in their life. They are caused by a virus that spreads via skin contact or contaminated surfaces. We have written more detailed information on Verrucae in the past. Common Verruca treatments Verruca will normally resolve of their own accord. However, this can take months and â…“ of warts are still present even after 2 years. The pain and discomfort often leads people to seek treatment and remove the verrucae quickly. You can obtain over-the-counter treatments from your pharmacy, which tend to involve gels or ointments that contain Salicylic Acid. These home treatments can be helped along with other simple measures, such as: Avoid touching the affected area and wash your hands after your touch the verruca Change your socks daily Cover the verruca with a plaster when swimming (this also helps avoid passing on the virus to others) Take care not to cut the wart In addition to these conservative measures, there are several more specialised treatments that can be accessed via your GP or a podiatrist. These include: Cryotherapy: The Verruca is des