I developed a verruca a couple of months ago and treated it, successfully, with a preparation from the chemist. It has returned, however, and I am wondering what I can do. I am 28 years of age, very fit and swim regularly.
Conventional remedy
Warts are infections of the skin by the human papilloma virus. There are a number of types of papilloma virus, which cause different types of warts. Warts can occur anywhere on the body but are most common on the hands. Warts that develop on the feet are called plantar warts or verrucas.
Wart viruses, which are caught by contact, are very easily spread. A person with warts can spread the virus onto floors or other surfaces, to be picked up by others. The virus causes a thickening of the skin. Warts that develop on the hands tend to be flesh-coloured or slightly pigmented and are raised from the surface of the skin.
Verrucas that occur on the soles of the feet are forced into rather than out of the skin, due to the weight and pressure of the body. They are usually very painful, because of the pressure on deep nerves in the soles of the feet.
You mention that you are a keen swimmer; this is probably the source of your infection. If someone using the pool or showers has a verruca, he or she may be shedding the virus, which you subsequently picked up. Unless it is treated effectively, you will almost certainly be spreading the virus yourself.
There are three main approaches to treating verrucas. The first is wart paint or cream, available over the counter, which you have tried. The second is cryotherapy, which involves freezing the skin and destroying the substance of the wart - and, with it, the virus. Many GPs now have this form of treatment available at their surgeries. Because the part of the wart that is visible on the surface of the skin is actually only its tip, it may take several sessions to eradicate the wart completely.
The third option is surgery, which is used only if the warts have not responded to cryotherapy. The disadvantage of surgery is that there is a risk that the virus seeds can be released during the procedure, and this can cause further warts to develop. For those with very resistant forms of warts, a special laser, using carbon dioxide, is effective.
Warts are by and large self-limiting, and the body tends to develop an immune response against the virus. This can take about 18 months, but for some it may take a lot longer.
It would be wise, therefore, to consult your GP for his opinion, and you should wear protective swimming socks when at the pool, to avoid infecting others and to protect yourself in the future.
Dr Muiris Houston
Alternative remedy
Verrucas are painful ingrowing warts, usually on the ball of the foot. Caused by the papilloma virus, they are infectious and can easily be picked up in changing rooms, sports centres and swimming pools.
The use of aromatherapy essential oils with antiviral properties, such as lavender, tea tree, sweet thyme, lemon, patchouli, marjoram and eucalyptus, is a very effective treatment. The therapeutic properties of essential oils are most effective when they are blended together.
I have found the following blend very successful against even the most persistent verrucas. It involves mixing 50 millilitres of cider vinegar with 30 drops of lavender oil, 30 drops of tea-tree oil, 20 drops of sweet-thyme oil, 20 drops of lemon oil and 10 drops of patchouli oil in a dark glass screw-cap bottle (shake well before use).
A qualified aromatherapist will make up this blend for you. Some chemists and health stores also provide an aromatherapy-blending service.
Use a cotton bud to apply the blend to the verruca twice a day after bathing. Avoid the surrounding skin. It will take approximately a month for the verruca to clear. The treatment should be continued for 10 days after the verruca has disappeared from the surface of the skin.
If you swim while you have a verruca, you should cover it with a plaster and wear protective socklets, footwear or both to preventing spreading the infection.
Once the verruca has cleared, swab your feet before and after swimming with a mix of two drops of tea-tree oil and two drops of lemon oil on a damp cotton-wool ball, which will prevent reinfection.
Margaret Connolly, aromatherapist
You can contact qualified aromatherapists via the Irish and International Aromatherapy Association (Tel: 044-42270)