Verruca needling
Verruca needling is a minor surgical procedure designed to trigger the body’s immune response to clear stubborn verrucas. It’s especially useful for verrucas that have been resistant to other treatments like acids, freezing, or laser therapy.
How does it work?
- Local anaesthetic is applied to numb the area, so the procedure is painless.
- A fine needle is used to repeatedly puncture the verruca, pushing the viral particles deeper into the skin.
- This stimulates the body’s immune system, allowing it to recognise and attack the human papillomavirus (HPV) causing the verruca.
- Over time, the immune system works to clear the verruca, and sometimes, other verrucas on the foot disappear too due to the immune response.
Needling is roughly 70% effective with the first treatment. Occasionally a second needling procedure is required.
FAQs
Does it hurt?
The local anaesthetic is the only slightly painful part, but most patients cope really well with the injection. The rest is pain-free because you are numb.
How long does it take for the verruca to go after needling?
Once you have had your treatments we often need to wait for the body to respond. This take anywhere from a couple of months to a year. Time really is a healer.
Why would I choose verruca needling over other treatment options?
Many people choose needling because it is generally more of a one off treatment. You do not need to come back weekly or even monthly as once we have treated you and done our first review we often then wait a few months to see if it has worked. If you are time poor then this is a good option for you.