Verrucae and Warts

NHS UK NHS UK Warts and Verrucas states "Warts and verrucae are small lumps on the skin that most people have at some point in their life. They usually go away on their own but may take months or even years".

Warts are usually skin coloured but may appear darker on black or brown skin. They are not harmful, but some people find them itchy, painful or embarrassing. However Verrucae (or Verrucas) are more likely to be painful – like standing on a needle. Luckily both can be treated and the pharmacy is an ideal place to go to for information, support and medication to treat them.

You can buy creams, plasters and sprays from pharmacies to treat warts and verrucas. These treatments can take up to 3 months to complete and can cause some skin irritation. Because of this you should not use these treatments on your face. Your pharmacist can give you advice about the best treatment for you.

Warts and verrucas are caused by a virus. They can be spread to other people from contaminated surfaces or through close skin contact. You're more likely to spread a wart or verruca if your skin is wet or damaged. It can take months for a wart or verruca to appear after contact with the virus. Therefore the pharmacy team will remind you there are things you can do to help stop warts or verrucas spreading to other people including:

• Washing your hands after touching a wart or verruca
• Changing your socks daily if you have a verruca
• Covering warts and verrucas with a plaster when swimming
• Taking care not to cut a wart when shaving
• Not sharing towels, flannels, socks or shoes if you have a wart or verruca
• Not biting your nails or suck fingers with warts on
• Not walking barefoot in public places if you have a verruca
• Not picking or scratching a wart