All verrucae patients are initially seen for a separate 30 minute assessment appointment.
During the consultation we will take your medical history, in addition to the physical assessment. Please complete a medical history form and bring it with you (download it here). We record details including your: name, address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, GP name and address, past and current medical history, allergies, medication, and any previous Podiatry treatment.
This is known as your minimum data set and recording it is a legal requirement. We keep all the information you give us confidentially, in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the College of Podiatry, the Health & Care Professions Council, and the Data Protection Act (we are registered data users registered with the Information Commission).
An appointment will be made for you to have your needling performed and you will be given written information on the procedure, success rates and post operative advice.
What are verrucae?
click here to go to our page on verruca
single verruca
multiple verrucae
multiple mosaic verrucae
Needling treatment
This relatively simple procedure was first described in 1966 by Gordon Falknor, an American Podiatrist, who in 8 months treated 126 lesions with only 2 recurrences. At present there is limited research to verify this level of success, however, we are confident that levels of 65% plus are regularly being achieved by Podiatrists in the UK and USA.
Treatment requires use of a local anaesthetic, then a needle is used to cause localised direct physical trauma to the verrucae lesion(s). The purpose is two-fold:
to destroy the growth by causing dissolution of the papillae composing the papilloma
to implant the virus into the dermal layer of the skin so that the bodies immune system can come into contact with the virus thereby stimulating a cell-mediated immune response.
Post operatively the lesion has the appearance of a dry blood blister and most patients experience little discomfort. There is no evidence to suggest using this technique is more likely to spread the virus than any other surgical or chemotherapeutic measure.
administration of local anaesthetic
lesion 5 mins post-op
lesion 1 week post-op
Please book in for assessment with a Podiatrist, who will be able to ascertain whether it is worth considering this procedure or whether other treatment options are more appropriate