Verrutop Treatment for Verrucae

What is Verrutop?

Verrutop is a professional topical treatment for verrucae and warts that is applied directly to the affected skin by a healthcare professional.

It contains Nitrizinc Complex, a solution containing nitric acid, organic acids and zinc and copper salts.

Rather than freezing the verruca, Verrutop causes a controlled chemical reaction within the affected tissue. This leads to dehydration and breakdown of the verruca tissue, which gradually changes appearance and is naturally shed as the skin recovers.

Verrutop is intended for professional application rather than home use.

Why has Verrutop been recommended?

Verrutop may be recommended for verrucae that are persistent, uncomfortable, spreading or have not responded adequately to simple home treatments.

It can also be useful when a patient would prefer a treatment that is generally quick to apply and usually causes minimal discomfort with little disruption to normal activities.

Your podiatrist will have considered the appearance, location and extent of your verruca(e), previous treatments and your general health when recommending Verrutop.

What happens during treatment?

At your appointment, your podiatrist will examine the verruca and usually reduce or debride the overlying hard skin where appropriate. This allows the treatment to be applied accurately to the affected tissue.

A small amount of Verrutop is then carefully applied directly to the verruca using a fine applicator.

The application itself is usually very quick.

Where you have several appropriate verrucae, your podiatrist can assess and treat these during the appointment where suitable.

No injection or local anaesthetic is normally required.

What does Verrutop treatment feel like?

Verrutop treatment is generally well tolerated.

Many patients experience little or no discomfort during application. Some people may notice a temporary tingling, burning sensation, tenderness or mild discomfort during or shortly after treatment.

These sensations are generally short-lived.

What happens to the verruca afterwards?

Following treatment, the verruca may change colour or appearance as the treated tissue dries.

Over the following days, the treated tissue gradually becomes dehydrated and may begin to separate from the healthy skin underneath.

You should not pick, cut or pull the treated tissue away yourself. Allow the area to respond naturally and your podiatrist can reduce any remaining hard or treated tissue at subsequent appointments where appropriate.

How many treatments will I need?

Verrucae respond differently between patients.

Treatment is normally reviewed approximately every 2 weeks. Some verrucae may resolve after only a small number of treatments, while persistent or longstanding verrucae may require further applications.

Verrutop can usually be repeated for up to six treatment sessions where required.

Your podiatrist will assess the response at each appointment. If the verruca is not responding as expected, we may discuss whether continuing Verrutop or considering another treatment would be more appropriate.

As with all verruca treatments, complete clearance cannot be guaranteed.

What happens after treatment?

Verrutop generally requires very little aftercare and most patients can continue their normal daily activities.

There is usually:

• no local anaesthetic
• no significant wound
• no routine requirement for a dressing; and
• little or no downtime.

The treated area should be allowed to dry and you should follow any individual instructions given by your podiatrist.

We recommend avoiding swimming for approximately 48 hours following application.

Do not apply other wart or verruca treatments to the area during your Verrutop treatment course unless your podiatrist specifically advises you to do so.

What are the potential benefits?

Potential advantages of Verrutop include:

• quick treatment
• generally minimal discomfort
• no injections or local anaesthetic
• little disruption to normal activities
• precise professional application; and
• treatment of persistent verrucae without freezing the skin.

Clinical studies and professional experience have reported good outcomes with Verrutop, although response varies considerably between individuals.

Verrucae are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and no verruca treatment can guarantee complete or permanent clearance.

What are the possible side effects and risks?

Verrutop is generally well tolerated when appropriately applied, but all treatments have potential side effects and risks.

Temporary effects may include:

• tingling or burning
• mild tenderness or discomfort
• redness
• irritation; and
• changes in the colour or appearance of the treated tissue.

Because Verrutop is a chemical treatment, accidental application to healthy skin can cause irritation, redness or a chemical burn. For this reason, it is carefully applied by your podiatrist directly to the verruca.

There is also a possibility that the verruca may not completely clear, may recur, or may require a different treatment.

Please contact the clinic if you experience an unexpected or concerning reaction.

Is Verrutop suitable for everyone?

Verrutop is not suitable for every patient or every skin lesion.

It should not be used in children under 6 years of age or during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

It may also be unsuitable for people with certain circulation problems, peripheral neuropathy or reduced sensation in the feet. Particular care is therefore required in patients with conditions such as diabetes where circulation or sensation may be affected.

Verrutop should not be applied to inflamed, infected or otherwise unsuitable skin, and other topical wart treatments should not normally be used at the same time.

Your podiatrist will assess your medical history, circulation, sensation, skin and the appearance of the lesion before recommending treatment.

If your health, medication or the condition of your foot changes during the treatment course, please tell your podiatrist before your next treatment.

What are the alternatives?

There are several approaches to managing verrucae and no single treatment is appropriate for everyone.

Depending on your individual circumstances, alternatives may include:

• monitoring the verruca without active treatment
• appropriate home/topical treatments
• CryoPen cryotherapy
• Swift microwave therapy
• Class IV laser therapy; or
• verruca needling (Falknor's needling).

Your podiatrist can discuss these options with you if your verruca does not respond as expected or if you would like to reconsider your treatment.

How much does Verrutop treatment cost?

Verrutop treatment: £65 per session

The number of treatments required varies between patients. Treatment may be repeated for up to approximately six sessions where clinically appropriate.

Your podiatrist will review your progress throughout your treatment course rather than automatically continuing treatment if it is not producing an appropriate response.

When should I contact the clinic?

Please contact us if you develop an unexpected or concerning reaction following treatment, particularly:

• significant or worsening pain
• excessive blistering or skin damage
• increasing redness or swelling
• discharge or signs of infection; or
• any other reaction that concerns you.

Please also tell us about any significant change in your health or medication before your next treatment.

Your next step

If you have already booked your treatment

There is normally nothing further you need to do.

Please read this information before attending and follow any instructions provided by your podiatrist.

If you have questions or concerns about Verrutop, you will have an opportunity to discuss these before treatment.

If Verrutop has been recommended but you have not yet booked

You can book your Nails, Skin & Verruca Follow-Up appointment when you are ready to proceed.

Verrutop treatment: £65 per session

Important information

This information sheet is intended to support the discussion you have had with your podiatrist and help you make an informed decision about treatment. It does not replace individual clinical advice.

Treatment outcomes vary between patients and complete clearance cannot be guaranteed.

Before treatment, your podiatrist will confirm that Verrutop remains appropriate for you and you will have the opportunity to ask questions or discuss any concerns before deciding whether to proceed.

The Podiatry Clinic