Verrucas are warts on the sole of the foot. They are caused by the human papillomavirus and spread through wet surfaces such as swimming pool decks and shared showers. Most clear up on their own within one to two years in adults, and faster in children. That matters, because most of what the pharmacy sells is aimed at speeding a process that would probably have completed by itself.

Do nothing is a genuine option

If a verruca is not painful and does not bother you cosmetically, the evidence for treating it is weak. Large reviews in the British Journal of General Practice and by the Cochrane group have concluded that no treatment is clearly better than placebo for many verrucas, and several have side effects. Pharmacists will often say this out loud before selling you anything.

That said, painful verrucas, spreading clusters, or ones in awkward pressure points are worth treating.

The three main pharmacy approaches

Salicylic acid

Sold as gels, paints, or medicated plasters at strengths between 10% and 50%. Applied daily after soaking and filing the verruca, salicylic acid slowly peels away infected skin. Evidence from Cochrane reviews supports salicylic acid as the best-studied topical treatment, with cure rates around 50 to 70% when used consistently for twelve weeks.

• Cheap (around £4 to £8 a pack).
• Needs daily commitment for up to three months.
• Must not be used on the face, broken skin, or by people with diabetes or poor circulation without pharmacist advice.

Home cryotherapy (freezing kits)

Products such as Bazuka Extra, Wartner and Scholl Freeze Verruca deliver a single dose of very cold gas or liquid (dimethyl ether / propane mix) through an applicator. A course usually involves two to four treatments two weeks apart. Cure rates are broadly similar to salicylic acid — neither is dramatically better in head-to-head trials.

• More expensive (around £10 to £18 a kit).
• Faster course of treatment.
• Can be painful and should not be used on children under four.
• Not suitable for people with diabetes, poor circulation, or on the face.

Silver nitrate applicator sticks

Sold as Avoca pens or similar. A caustic treatment that burns off layers of skin. Evidence base is thinner and many pharmacists reserve it for small, well-defined verrucas. Staining of surrounding skin is common but fades.

What the pharmacist will ask

Before supplying any verruca product, the pharmacist will usually check whether you:

• Have diabetes or a circulation problem — avoid all acid and freezing products without GP advice because of the risk of poor healing.
• Are pregnant.
• Are treating a child under four.
• Have a verruca near the nail, on the face, or in the genital area — these need a GP.

When to see a GP

Book a GP appointment if:

• The verruca is painful, spreading, or bleeding.
• You have diabetes, peripheral vascular disease or are immunosuppressed.
• Counter treatments have not worked after twelve weeks of correct use.
• You are unsure whether it is a verruca at all — skin cancers can occasionally mimic a wart.

GPs can refer to podiatry or dermatology for cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, curettage, or occasionally laser treatment, though NHS availability varies by area.

Preventing spread

Cover the verruca with a waterproof plaster at swimming pools and communal showers. Do not share towels, socks, or pumice stones. Do not pick at it. The virus lives in the skin, so picking spreads it to fingers and other parts of the foot.

Finding a pharmacy

Talk to your community pharmacist before spending on a kit — they can tell you whether treatment is likely to help or whether it is worth waiting. PharmSee's pharmacy directory lists opening hours, services, and late-opening branches.

Sources

• NHS: Warts and verrucas
• NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Warts and verrucae
• Cochrane Reviews: Topical treatments for cutaneous warts
• British National Formulary: salicylic acid preparations