What is it?

Verruca Pedis is a type of benign skin lesion arising from a viral infection of the epidermis. Verrucae are synonymous with ‘warts ‘and can occur on any area of skin, through they are most commonly found on the feet they can develop on overlying callosity which can make them painful. They are otherwise harmless lesion. Sam’s Foot Clinic

What causes it?

The virus responsible for verrucae is the Human Papilloma Virus. These are many strains of this virus, but the three most common for causing verrucae and warts are HPV1,2 and 4. Thankfully all these strains are the benlgn subtype though some cancers can resemble viral warts. As such, it is always important to have suspected verrucae investigated by a foot health professional.

HPV is ubiquitous. Strains causing verrucae and warts are found commonly on the hands of most people as well as many inanimate objects that we come into contact with each day. However, it is a weak virus as it is easily washed off of the outer layer of the epidermis as well as easily washed off of inanimate objects. The strains responsible for verrucae and warts only cause infection when they get access to the base layer of the epidermis. It is because the cells that they target for viral replication are metabolically active keratinocytes which are found at this base layer. As the epidermis provides a very robust barrier to most things, it takes a breach in the outer layers of the epidermis to allow the virus to access theses metabolically active keratinocytes to cause infection. Thus, if the skin is excessively wet or macerated or has been subject to micro tears, the risk of infection increases.