Verruca
Needling.

Verruca needling is an advanced, immune-stimulating treatment for stubborn verrucae. Performed under local anaesthetic, the podiatrist uses a sterile needle to puncture the verruca tissue repeatedly. This breaks down infected cells and releases viral antigens into the bloodstream, triggering a powerful immune response that enables your body to recognise and clear the verruca virus.

No — the procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, so you feel no pain during treatment. The local anaesthetic injection may sting briefly (similar to a dental injection), but once the area is numb, the needling itself is completely painless. Most patients report mild tenderness for 24–72 hours after, similar to a deep bruise.

Most patients require only one session. This is one of the key advantages of verruca needling — it is a single-visit treatment. In rare cases, a second session may be needed if the immune response is incomplete, but this is uncommon.

Verruca needling has one of the highest success rates of any verruca treatment, particularly for stubborn, long-standing, or treatment-resistant verrucae. Research and clinical experience show success rates of 70–80% or higher. It is especially effective for cases where other treatments like cryotherapy, acids, or Swift have been unsuccessful.

Yes — you can walk immediately after treatment. Most patients walk out of the clinic with minimal discomfort. We recommend avoiding vigorous exercise, running, or prolonged standing for 48 hours to allow the area to settle, but normal walking and daily activities are fine.

Most patients experience mild tenderness or discomfort for 24–72 hours after treatment — similar to a deep bruise. This resolves quickly. You can return to work, school, and normal activities the same day or the next day. Avoid high-impact exercise or running for 48 hours.

Verruca needling has a lower recurrence rate than many other treatments because it triggers an immune response rather than simply removing tissue. However, no treatment offers a 100% guarantee against recurrence — new HPV exposure is always possible.

Yes — when performed by an experienced, HCPC-registered podiatrist, verruca needling is a safe, well-established treatment. The procedure is performed under strict sterile conditions using single-use, sterile needles and equipment. Risks are minimal and include mild bruising, temporary discomfort, and (rarely) infection.

Verruca needling is generally recommended for adults and older teenagers. It is not typically recommended for younger children, as the local anaesthetic injection and the nature of the procedure can be distressing. For children, we usually recommend Swift microwave therapy, Verrutop, or cryotherapy as gentler alternatives.

Yes — verruca needling can treat mosaic verruca clusters. However, the podiatrist typically needles one or two of the larger verrucae within the cluster. The immune response triggered by needling these individual verrucae often clears the entire cluster.

Verruca needling is a single-session treatment, whereas Swift typically requires 3–4 sessions. Needling is often chosen for patients who want a one-time solution, for very stubborn or long-standing verrucae, or for cases where Swift has been tried without full success. Both treatments are highly effective — your podiatrist will advise which is most appropriate for your case.

Verruca needling may be suitable for diabetic patients or those with circulatory conditions, but this must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Your podiatrist will conduct a thorough assessment of your medical history, circulation, and sensation before proceeding. In some cases, alternative treatments may be safer.

Our clinic is in Arnold, Nottingham. We see patients from across Nottinghamshire including Gedling, Carlton, Mapperley, Woodthorpe, Ravenshead, Hucknall, Daybrook, Bestwood, Calverton, Lambley, Burton Joyce, West Bridgford, Beeston, Bingham, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Mansfield, Newark and surrounding areas.

Verruca needling pricing depends on the size and number of verrucae being treated. Please contact us directly for accurate pricing. We provide transparent, competitive pricing with no hidden fees.