IN THE PRESS
365 Fulbridge Road
Walton, Peterborough
PE4 6SJ
Phone: (01733) 578440
Why don't I use acids or freezing on warts /
verrucas?
Please note, the following is what Dr. Ivan Bristow, probably the most respected podiatric dermatologist in the entire country has said during lectures.
Cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) only has a cure rate of 52% and involves several treatments.
The aerosol cans that some chiropodists use cannot get down to lethal temp which is -35°C or below. A study at Southampton University showed that the lowest temperature on any spray can was -5°C/-10°C, not even close to lethal temperatures.
Salicylic acid has a success rate of 62% at any concentration and involves several treatments.
In a study done, of those who sought treatment, a significant number said that they would not have bothered if they knew what trouble it was going to cause.
Another well respected podiatrist has said, " Salicylic acid at high
concentrations can also break down fat and proteins, cause tracking along tendons, and cause abscesses."
For verrucas, I either debride (put a blade to it), use needling and /or Radiosurgery.
Falknor`s Needling for verruca
Falknor`s needling procedure is an innovative and highly effective treatment for stubborn Verrucae (warts). It is a form of destructive therapy which is intended to damage the verruca and create a controlled inflammatory response around the area, which stimulates the body's immune system to recognise the virus and destroy it. The treatment has been around for 40 years and was first described in a medical journal in America in 1969 and is used routinely with great success by practitioners internationally.
Needling is different from most other treatment modalities (such as caustics, which can entail dozens of applications to be effective) as it only requires one, very occasionally two, applications making this an ideal treatment for busy people.
24 hours after treatment you can shower as normal without the need to keep bulky dressings dry. In fact no dressings are required at all after 2 days, so you can continue with daily activities as normal.
How does this method of treatment work? By puncturing the tissue containing the virus multiple times, the virus particle is directly exposed to the adipose tissue beneath allowing the body`s own immune system to recognise and destroy the
virus. As this immune response is systemic, treatment of only one Verrucae is required even where there are many lesions as spontaneous remission occurs in all Verrucae at the same time.
The procedure is carried out painlessly under a local anaesthetic and only mild soreness the following day has been reported by a few patients, although the majority felt no discomfort at all following treatment.
The local anaesthetic will either be injected at the base of the toe or at the ankle. You will not be able to drive whilst the anaesthetic is in effect!
Needling is not an overnight solution, it can take time to have an effect, from 2-3 months to 1 year. Also, patients must not take any anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, aspirin, etc) for at least 2 weeks post op, otherwise the inflammation to trigger response won`t occur! If any bruising is felt, patients can take paracetamol.
Post Operative advice following Needling for verruca
You may experience a little discomfort (bruising) after the anaesthetic has worn off and might wish to take your preferred painkillers. Please avoid Aspirin based products as they can cause bleeding and do not take an anti-inflammatory (the
aim of treatment is to create an inflammatory response!). Go home and rest with your foot elevated as much as possible for the rest of the day and keep the dressing dry.
24 hours after treatment, you can remove the dressing and shower as normal, lightly washing the area with soap and water. No dressing is generally required after showering, and you can continue with daily activities as normal.
It is important that you keep your follow up appointments at one and ten week intervals after the procedure, for wound inspection and to ensure that there are no problems. If in the unlikely event that infection occurs, please contact your podiatrist immediately. The signs of infection are pain with heat and possibly a smelly discharge from the wound.
Every effort will be made to ensure a successful outcome to your treatment. If you have any concerns at all about your treatment, please do not hesitate to contact me
In accordance with rules, all patients have given their consent for the photos to be published on my website.
Needling of Verrucas: Please note that a patient must not be taking anti-inflamatories (ibuprofen, aspirin, etc )for 2 weeks prior to and 2 weeks after the needling procedure, or the inflammation to trigger response won`t occur!
Paracetamol may be taken.
Also, needling is not an overnight cure, it can take a
minimum of 2-3 months to 1 year for the needling to have a full effect.
The following are before and after photos. as well as
testomnials from customeers that have had the needling procedure carried out. In accordance with rules, all
patients have given their consent for the photos to be published on my website.
I had developed several verruccas in 2007, they itched, and they became bigger. I had used Verrugon (an acid) and had tried freezing, but it didn't work. In May 2014, I underwent the needling procedure. By the september only 1 lesion was left
but that was not a problem. When in June 2016, I saw Charles for something different, all had completely
gone.
Donna PE3
The following photos are from start to finish of the
treatment
I first went to see Charles on (26/8/14) to see if anything could be done to get rid of the verucca on the sole of my right foot. At the time it was about 1cm in diameter and was painful, as it felt like I constantly had a stone in the
bottom of my shoe. It was always uncomfortable but especially if I was walking in high shoes or if I tried to exercise.
Previous to this I had tried a great deal of over the counter treatments that had been expensive and unsuccessful. I had also been to a couple of other chiropodists, who had also failed to treat it successfully. I saw Charles's advert in the local Werrington Community magazine about offering a treatment for veruccas, and thought that I had nothing to lose.
He examined me and explained the treatment and we set a date. On the morning of the treatment he injected my foot at the base of my big toe with local anaesthetic (which was probably the worst bit), and once my foot was numb
set about injecting all around the base of the verucca. I didn't feel any of these injections.
Approx 12 weeks later Charles did the same procedure, and ever since then the verucca has been shrinking quite successfully. All the spongey tissue surrounding it
has gone and it is not longer painful. I no longer feel like there is a stone in the bottom of my shoe. I can wear high heels, walk for long periods of time and exercise without impediment.
When I look at all the time and expense I wasted trying to get rid of my verucca before (over a period of several years), compared to the quite reasonable cost and a bit of mild discomfort spent on this treatment, I wish I had done it straight away. It has certainly proved successful for me and
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. I'm certainly very happy with the results.
Sue PE4
The following photos are from start to finish of the
treatment
I'd had Verrucas for 5 years and being an active walker and runner had found them to be increasingly painful. I'd tried self-treatment and other remedies but to no avail. I turned to Peterborough Chiropody and had a treatment called needling. The process was quick and pain-free thanks to the anesthetic. After a week of hobbling about I
was back on my feet and now two years later I haven't had a return. A big thanks to Charles for tackling them!
Alistair, PE4
Before
After
I had multiple verrucas on both feet for about 5 years. I had tried all the over the counter remedies and the doctors were unable to offer any advice. I had hoped they would improve
over time but they didn’t and one in particular was painful to walk on so I sought out alternative treatment. The recovery from the needling wasn’t bad at all other than a bit of minor pain. It is difficult to say exactly when they started to go but around 6 months later I was noticing that the smaller
verrucas were disappearing 1 by 1. The larger ones took longer but within a year all of my verrucas had cleared up and I couldn’t be happier with the result.
Caroline, PE2
In terms of success rate, for a single, small lesion. nothing else touches Radiosurgery for Verrucas. An electrode is used to cut the skin . The cell touching the wire is vapourised, the one next to it is untouched, it is therefore very precise: the lesion is excised. A single fibrous verrucas responds very well, a mosaic one responds less well.
Please note
1. Radiosurgery is not suitable for extensive mosaicverrucas.
2. Although the electrode remains cold (Radiofrequency being used to heat the cells up), there is a possibility of scar formation
3. As a verruca is caused by a virus, there is always a small chance that the verruca can recur.
4. Healing may take between 2-4 weeks"
Rachel, aged 26, had had three verrucas on the bottom of her right big toe for 2 years. Previous treatment had included Bazuka and cryotherapy (freezing). A few months after treatment, they were still absent, and no scarring was present.
Nicky, aged 9, has 2 verrucas (one on her right heel, the other one on the apex of her left 3rd toe. Her mother said, “they were causing considerable pain, particularly whilst walking. Nicky hates any kind of injection. Charles was very understanding and helpful. Treatment was successful, within 5 weeks they had healed. We were very pleased and happy with the result and Nicky has not suffered ever since.” The verrucas were still absent after a few months, and no scarring present.
John, 68, had a small verruca at the back of his heel and it was very painful. Two acid treatments had had no effect. After Radiosurgery, the verruca had gone, no scarring was present and there was no pain at all.
Andrew, 42, from Whittlesey, said, “I have suffered from multiple verrucas since 2003. I have tried every over-the-counter preparation available and also an extensive cryotherapy treatment at my Newmarket chiropodist. All these proved to be futile. I contacted Charles, he was extremely thorough in his assessment of my by now,
large verrucas. The first Radiosurgery reduced the size considerably. The treatment was also painless. The 2nd Radiosurgery eliminated the remaining verruca tissue entirely. I heartily recommend this treatment as an alternative to acid treatment of freezing-simply because it works. A few months later, although there was scarring present, the verrucas had gone. Andrew had a mosaic
verruca.
“Charles is extremely knowledgeable about his profession and gives good
accurate advice without any charge... having used his services over the last few years I would not go to back
to my previous chiropodist or any other chiropodist because I think Charles is
treats me fairly and effectively”
“When we came to Werrington, we initially had Charles for a home visit. During that visit, he said to us that he could do a far better service at his surgery, and were we absolutely sure that we couldn't get to his surgery. We have been attending his surgery ever since, and find him to be more thorough than the last person that we had, particularly with regards to my heels”
“I have thickened nails. I used to go to someone to have them treated. The person that I went to, encouraged me to return after 6 weeks to have them reduced again. I have been going to see Charles for several years now. I find him much more thorough in his approach”
“I used to have someone else but they were on holiday once and I couldn't get an appointment when I wanted one . I went to see Charles. At the first appointment, the first thing that Charles noticed was the fact that I had athletes foot. I have never ever been told this in several appointments over a time frame by the
other chiropodist. He said that the length of time that I had had the athletes foot untreated explained why I had developed fungal nails. He also gave me both short term, and long term advice on how to deal with this / the prognosis. I also have hard skin. He told me how to prevent this / delay it from returning.
And I am not talking about me using a foot file. either! The other person never once told me this. Although the cost of the appointment itself is more expensive than the other person, I find Charles far better value for money”
“I used to have someone attend once every 6 weeks. Charles came at the end of May, did far more for my nails in 1 visit and I didn't need him until early November”
“Charles was concerned that something on my leg was taking a long time to heal (over 1 year). A nurse had been dealing with dressing the "ulcer". Although I attend his clinic for nail cutting, he was concerned at this and wrote to the GP so that a further investigation along separate lines could be carried out
(this was as a result of a lecture he had attended). As a result, the GP's surgery have taken a completely different approach to treating the problem and have referred me to the hospital. All thanks to Charles's intervention”