ThanksDoc
Sign in
Skip to content

Warts & verrucas

Common, harmless skin growths. Often clear on their own, treatable when they don't.

Speak to a GP about warts and verrucasFrom £79

In short

Warts and verrucas are common, harmless, and often clear on their own. When they're painful or persistent, treatment helps, and a GP can confirm the diagnosis and rule out anything that needs a closer look.

Overview

What is warts & verrucas?

Warts and verrucas are small growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) infecting the top layer of skin. Warts usually appear on the hands; verrucas are warts on the soles of the feet. They're harmless and often resolve by themselves, but can be persistent, uncomfortable, or spread, in which case treatment helps.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

  • Small, rough, raised growths on the hands or fingers (warts)
  • Flat, sometimes painful growths on the soles of the feet (verrucas)
  • Tiny black dots within the growth
  • Growths that can appear singly or in clusters

When to act

When to see a doctor

Book a GP if warts or verrucas are painful, spreading, persistent despite treatment, or you're unsure what a growth is. Get any growth that bleeds, changes, or looks unusual checked.

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent help if

  • A growth that bleeds, changes quickly, or looks unusual (needs assessment to exclude skin cancer)
  • Facial or genital warts (treated differently, genital warts via sexual health)
  • Warts in someone with a weakened immune system

Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies or NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency advice.

Treatment

How a private GP can help

  • Confirmation that the growth is a wart or verruca
  • Advice on over-the-counter treatments (salicylic acid) and how to use them properly
  • Guidance on cryotherapy (freezing) options
  • A plan for stubborn or spreading warts
  • Reassurance, as most are harmless and many clear by themselves
  • Referral where the diagnosis is uncertain or treatment is specialist

What we don't do

  • Genital warts (treated via sexual health services, see our genital warts page)
  • Specialist removal of resistant or facial lesions (referred on)

Pricing

What it costs

An online consultation about warts and verrucas starts at £79 for a 20-minute video appointment. In-pharmacy consultations are £129 and home visits are £189. Your consultation includes one private prescription if appropriate, and a sick note for work if needed. You pay the pharmacy separately for any medication.

See full pricing breakdown

FAQ

Common questions about warts & verrucas

Do warts and verrucas need treatment?
Not always, many clear by themselves over months to a couple of years. Treatment is worthwhile if they're painful, spreading, or bothering you.
What's the best treatment?
Salicylic acid applied daily over weeks, often combined with freezing, is the usual approach. Persistence is key, as warts can be stubborn.
Are they contagious?
Yes, they're caused by a virus and can spread by contact or on wet floors. Cover verrucas at the pool and avoid sharing towels.
When should a skin growth be checked?
If it bleeds, grows quickly, changes colour, or looks different from a typical wart, get it assessed to be sure it isn't something else.
See all conditions we can help with

Ready to talk to a GP about warts and verrucas?

Message Emily on WhatsApp or book online in under 90 seconds. UK-registered doctors, available today.

Start on WhatsApp

7 days a week · 08:00–22:00 · WhatsApp or email