FAQS

Verrucas can occur anywhere on the soles of your feet or toes, usually on weight-bearing areas. On close inspection they can resemble tiny black dots under a rough, sometimes circular layer of skin. A slight depression in the centre of the affected area is a sign that the verruca has fully formed. Also, the skin can have a harder edge around a softer centre.

First symptoms are usually a feeling of pain or tenderness when applying pressure to the affected area from standing or walking.

NHS - warts and verrucas

Healthline

Warts can develop on almost any area of your body; however, they are most commonly found on your palms, knuckles, fingers and knees. Warts often form a raised area of skin that is firm and rough to the touch. It’s common to have more than one wart at a time. The term ‘mosaic wart’ is used to describe tightly packed clusters of warts that resemble a mosaic.

NHS - warts and verrucas

Verrucas and warts are caused by a virus usually spread through skin-to-skin contact, or from coming into contact with a contaminated surface. Warts and verrucas spread more easily when the skin’s surface is wet or damaged.

It’s important to:

• always wash your hands after touching a verruca/wart.
• make sure you always wear clean socks if you have a verruca.
• be careful not to irritate or cut the wart.

Do not:

• share socks, towels, gloves or shoes with someone who has a verruca/wart.
• bite nails on fingers which are affected with warts.
• scratch, or pick the verruca/wart.
• do not walk barefoot in public places if you have a verruca.

NHS - warts and verrucas

Healthline.com

Whilst times vary, it can take months for a verruca/wart to appear after contact with the virus.

NHS - warts and verrucas

Times vary and this can depend on whether you try to treat the verruca or not. Whilst both warts and verrucas usually resolve on their own, it might take months, or even years.

NHS - warts and verrucas

In most cases they go away on their own, however, this might take months, or even years. They can spread to other people if left untreated.

NHS - warts and verrucas

Untreated warts can last from a few weeks, to several years. They eventually go away without treatment, however, treating will usually help get rid of them more quickly. In children, warts have a shorter lifespan and usually disappear more quickly.

Medicalnewstoday.com

Whilst verrucas usually don’t cause you any harm, they can be painful and cause extreme discomfort and sometimes itchiness. The first symptom is usually tenderness when walking. People often describe the pain as feeling sharp, like standing on a needle. Verrucas are usually more painful than warts.

NHS - warts and verrucas

On closer examination, small black spots can be seen in the verruca. These are not roots, as some people believe. The black spots are caused by bleeding in the verruca as a result of standing and walking on it.

NHS – warts and verrucas

Healthline

There are various ways you can treat verrucas/warts. Your local pharmacist may opt for a clinically proven topical treatment such as Bazuka Gel or Bazuka Treatment Gel. These products are suitable for adults, children and the elderly. They contain salicylic acid which gradually removes the affected skin tissue and may help to stimulate an immune response against the virus. Both these actions serve to eliminate the virus.

For a treatment that visibly works on first application, try Bazuka Sub-Zero. Based on the cryotherapy method used by doctors this fast to use and effective formula freezes verrucas or warts to the core.

When no other treatments work, or if you have a wart on your face, you might be referred to a skincare specialist. Minor surgery and treatment with a laser or high intensity light may be necessary in some cases.

NHS - warts and verrucas

Verrucas vary in size, however they usually range between 1mm and 1cm in diameter.

Unlike verrucas, corns and calluses are not caused by a virus. Rather, they are hard or thick areas of skin caused by abrasion and rubbing of the skin, usually on the hands or feet. Corns are small lumps of hard skin whereas calluses are larger patches of rough, thick skin.

Verrucas on the other hand are caused by a virus, are usually confined to your feet and have tiny black dots in their centre.

NHS - corns and calluses

NHS - warts and verrucas

Corns and calluses are caused by pressure or rubbing of the skin, usually confined to the hands and feet. The causes include wearing high heels or uncomfortable shoes, not wearing socks with your shoes, playing musical instruments and/or using gym weights/equipment.

NHS - corns and calluses

Corns and calluses are rarely anything to worry about, but there are things you can do to help treat and prevent them.

It’s important to:

• wear cushioned socks to avoid abrasion.
• wear wide shoes with a low heel which are not constricting and do not rub.
• use soft insoles to avoid rubbing.
• regularly remove the hard skin by soaking in warm water to soften them and then rubbing with a pumice stone.
• moisturise the affected area to help keep skin soft and help prevent calluses/corns from forming.
• use protective gloves when using gym equipment.

Do not:

• cut off corns or calluses yourself.
• walk for long distances without the appropriate footwear or stand for prolonged periods of time.
• wear high heels or tight pointy shoes.
• go barefoot, especially when outside.

Ask your GP or pharmacist about protective heels/insoles, as well as pain killers if your corns/calluses are causing discomfort or pain. They might also be able to recommend various over-the-counter products to help treat the problem.

NHS - corns and calluses

Only use Bazuka Gel on verrucas, warts, corns and calluses. Before use, make sure to find a suitable surface in case of accidental spillage. Follow these steps once every day usually in the evening, and carry on using until the verruca/wart disappears:

1. Soak the affected area in warm water for 2 to 3 minutes. Dry the area thoroughly, using your own towel to avoid spreading infection.
2. Apply a thin coating (one or two drops) of the gel to the top of the wart, verruca, corn or callus only.
3. The next evening, carefully peel or pick off the white patch of dried gel from the wart, verruca, corn or callus. Then repeat steps 1 & 2.
4. Once a week, before applying fresh gel, gently rub the wart, verruca, corn or callus with the emery board provided or a pumice stone.

Only use Bazuka Extra Strength Gel on warts, verrucas, corns and calluses. Before use, make sure to find a suitable surface in case of accidental spillage. Follow these steps once every day usually in the evening, and carry on using until the verruca/wart disappears:

1. Soak the affected area in warm water for 2 to 3 minutes. Dry the area thoroughly, using your own towel to avoid spreading infection.
2. Apply a thin coating (one or two drops) of the gel to the top of the wart, verruca, corn or callus only.
3. The next evening, carefully peel or pick off the white patch of dried gel from the wart, verruca, corn or callus. Then repeat steps 1 & 2.
4. Once a week, before applying fresh gel, gently rub the wart, verruca, corn or callus with the emery board provided or a pumice stone.

Only use Bazuka Treatment Gel on warts, verrucas, corns and calluses. Before use, make sure to find a suitable surface in case of accidental spillage. Follow these steps once every day usually in the evening, and carry on using until the verruca/wart disappears:

1. Soak the affected area in warm water for 2 to 3 minutes. Dry the area thoroughly, using your own towel to avoid spreading infection.
2. Apply a thin coating (one or two drops) of the gel to the top of the wart, verruca, corn or callus only.
3. The next evening, carefully peel or pick off the white patch of dried gel from the wart, verruca, corn or callus. Then repeat steps 1 & 2.
4. Once a week, before applying fresh gel, gently rub the wart, verruca, corn or callus with the emery board provided or a pumice stone.

Only use Bazuka Extra Strength Treatment Gel on warts or verrucas. Before use, make sure to find a suitable surface in case of accidental spillage. Follow these steps once every day, and carry on using until the verruca/wart disappears:

1. Soak the affected area in warm water for 2 to 3 minutes. Dry the area thoroughly, using your own towel to avoid spreading infection.
2. Apply a thin coating (one or two drops) of the gel to the top of the wart or verruca only.
3. The next evening, carefully peel or pick off the white patch of dried gel from the wart or verruca. Then repeat steps 1 & 2.
4. Once a week, before applying fresh gel, gently rub the wart or verruca with the emery board provided or a pumice stone.

Only use Bazuka Sub-Zero on warts and verrucas on the hands and feet. Bazuka Sub-Zero should not be used more than 3 times on individual warts or verrucas, and each freezing application should be at least two weeks apart. Follow these steps:

1. Soak the verruca or wart in warm water for at least 6 minutes.
2. Dry using your own towel to avoid spreading infection. After drying, gently file with an emery board or pumice stone.
3. Assemble the applicator so it’s ready for freezing. Place upside down on a flat surface and ‘charge’ the device by pressing down on the safety cap for 1 second. Remove device from cap while keeping cap held firmly on flat surface.
4. Immediately after charging, apply Bazuka Sub-Zero directly to the verruca or wart with a constant, light pressure for the time specified in the table below.

Only use Bazuka Advance Treatment Pen on warts and verrucas. Follow these steps every other day (on days 1, 3 and 5) followed by 2 days’ rest, and carry on using until the verruca/wart disappears or for a maximum of 6 weeks.

1. Soak the affected area in lukewarm water for at least 5 minutes.
2. Gently rub any hard skin off the surface of the wart or verruca (but don’t file it). Take care not to break the skin.
3. Gently stroke the wart with the tip of the pen for the contact time shown in the instruction leaflet. The pen tip is not designed to deliver visible liquid drops.
4. Treat the whole wart or verruca, taking care not to apply product onto healthy skin. The pen delivers a colourless formulation which may not be visible upon application.

It’s recommended to cover a verruca with a protective plaster, swimming sock or boot when you are barefoot, for example in places like a swimming pool or communal shower, to stop the virus from spreading. Bazuka Gel, for treating verrucas, helps inhibit the spread of the virus by forming a water-resistant, protective barrier, thereby making it unnecessary to wear protective plasters or socks.

Ref: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/warts-and-verrucas/

Yes, Bazuka Gel, a verruca treatment, helps prevent the virus from spreading by forming a water-resistant, protective barrier over the verruca , meaning no plaster is necessary.

Salicylic acid has a keratolytic action. This means that when Bazuka Gel is applied to verrucas and warts it helps to gradually peel away the thickened, hard skin layers containing the virus. Additional use of a pumice stone or emery board can also help to remove the dead skin. Do not let anyone else use the same pumice stone or emery board as sharing these may spread the virus. Salicylic acid also causes mild irritation to the verruca/wart area, which may encourage the body’s natural immune system to respond to the virus.

Salicylic acid gradually peels away the thickened, hard skin containing the virus infection. This is referred to as keratolytic action. It gradually softens the top layers of the verruca/wart, allowing the lesion to loosen and shed.

Ref: https://patient.info/medicine/salicylic-acid

Bazuka gels, which contain salicylic acid, can be applied daily for as long as it takes to remove the verruca/wart. A few weeks is normally long enough although treatment can take up to 3 months in resistant cases. Use as recommended in the instruction leaflet. If you experience unacceptable discomfort or persistent irritation, you should stop treatment and see your doctor or pharmacist.

Ref: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.6625.pdf

High strengths of salicylic acid are used in applied treatments for common skin and foot lesions such as verrucas and warts to slowly soften the thickened skin containing the virus, encouraging them to shed.

Ref: https://patient.info/medicine/salicylic-acid