OK, so the kids are back to school and those pesky verrucas are back with a vengeance too!
Credit to Osgo
I have decided to do a short piece about verrucae....I have had lot of parents contacting me about their child having a verruca. Especially now they’re back to school, it’s vital to learn ways to avoid the spread as they’re highly contagious! Firstly, what is a verruca? A verruca, also known as a plantar wart is a small, rough growth or lump on your skin (typically on the sole, ball, heels of your feet or underneath your toes), which is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). They are usually white or yellow and you may notice a little black dot in the middle. And to be fair most of us have had one but my goodness they can be painful when you put weight on them! How do they spread so easily? Verrucae are very contagious and they just love moist environments, e.g. swimming baths. They are extremely common in school aged kids and are easily passed between people even just by walking on the same surface bare foot. As with swimming pools, play areas are another common breeding ground. For adults, you could get a verruca at the gym, your own home, other communal areas, for example. Bear in mind if the skin on the feet is broken or is moist then this puts you more at risk of spreading / contracting. Especially if you do have a school aged child, make sure to regularly check the bottoms of their feet and if you do notice a verruca, don’t ignore. Seek advice and read on to reduce the chances of it spreading. The advice also applies to adults. To note, those more at risk groups, e.g., those with a weakened immune system, children and teenagers have increased vulnerability of getting a verruca.
Some do’s and don’t’s when it comes to verrucae. Do ✔️✔️✔️ - Change your socks each day if you have a verruca - Make sure you wash your hands after you have touched a verruca - When swimming, wear swimming socks, otherwise wear a waterproof plaster if you have a verruca - Wear shower shoes if you live with other people, otherwise socks or slippers around the rest of the home - Dry your feet thoroughly and if you can, dry your infected foot last - Cover any broken skin with a dressing or plaster at least until it heals Don’t ❌❌❌ - Pick or scratch at a verruca. If you do need to touch it for any reason, ensure you wear disposable gloves. The verruca May be itchy but bear in mind if you scratch it you may make it bleed, thus risk of further infection - Share your towel, socks, shoes or flannel with other people if you or they have a verruca - Walk with no shoes or socks on in communal areas if you have a verruca So, if you notice that you or a loved one has a verruca, don’t hesitate to get in touch – here. It’s best to have a foot assessment as I find it may not always be a verruca, it could be another common foot problem.
Check out my website page re other common foot problems. Lynn, Podiatrist in Sunderland X ☺️ X 💕
