A rough little bump on a finger, or a sore spot on the sole of your foot, and the urge is to get rid of it. The NHS says warts and verrucas are small lumps on the skin that most people have at some point, and that they usually go away on their own but may take months or even years. They can spread through contaminated surfaces or close skin contact, so the page lists ways to stop that. Pharmacy treatments can take up to 3 months, don’t always work, and should not be used on your face. This sets out the NHS page “Warts and verrucas”.
1. Usually go on their own, but months to years. They can also take months to appear after contact.
2. Wash hands after touching; don’t share towels, socks or shoes; don’t pick.
3. Pharmacy creams and plasters: up to 3 months, never on the face. Face, genitals, bleeding or changing: see a GP.
What they are and how they spread — NHS
The NHS describes warts and verrucas as small lumps on the skin that most people have at some point in their life. They usually go away on their own, but may take months or even years. They can spread to other people through contaminated surfaces or close skin contact, and it can take months for one to appear after contact with the virus. That is why it is often hard to say where one came from (our reading).
Stopping the spread — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Wash your hands after touching a wart or verruca | — |
| Do | Change your socks daily if you have a verruca | — |
| Do | Cover them with a plaster when swimming | — |
| Do | Take care not to cut a wart when shaving | — |
| Don’t | Share towels, flannels, socks or shoes | — |
| Don’t | Bite your nails or suck fingers with warts on | Keeps it away from the mouth |
| Don’t | Walk barefoot in public places with a verruca | In Korea: bathhouses, pools |
| Don’t | Scratch or pick a wart | — |
“Bathhouses, pools” is our translation of public places into Korean settings. The barefoot and towel advice overlaps with athlete’s foot; how to wash your hands is in handwashing for 20 seconds.
At the pharmacy — NHS
You can buy creams, plasters and sprays from pharmacies, the NHS says. But these treatments can take up to 3 months to complete, may irritate your skin and do not always work, and should not be used on your face. The page we read doesn’t name ingredients, so ask a pharmacist.
When to see a GP, and what happens — NHS
| When | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| You’re worried about a growth on your skin | See a GP | Check it is a wart first |
| It keeps coming back | See a GP | — |
| Very large or painful | See a GP | — |
| It bleeds or changes how it looks | See a GP | — |
| On your face or genitals | See a GP | Fits “no pharmacy treatments on the face” |
A GP may be able to freeze a wart or verruca so it falls off a few weeks later, and it sometimes takes a few sessions, the NHS says. If treatment fails or the wart is on your face, a GP may refer you to a dermatologist, and a podiatrist may be an option for a large or very painful verruca. Treatments include stronger medicines, liquid nitrogen freezing and surgical removal. That describes the UK system; we haven’t checked which specialty to visit in Korea.
Other foot problems are covered in ingrown toenail and blisters.
Checklist
- ☐ Wash hands after touching; don’t pick
- ☐ Separate towels, socks and shoes
- ☐ A plaster for swimming; no bare feet in public places
- ☐ Pharmacy treatment up to 3 months, never on the face
- ☐ Face, genitals, bleeding or changes: see a GP
Questions that remain
Can I cut it off with nail clippers?
The NHS says not to scratch or pick a wart, and leaves removal to GPs and specialists.
Is it the same as a corn?
The page we read doesn’t cover corns. If you’re unsure what’s on your sole, get it checked.
Sources
- NHS — Warts and verrucas — source (page shows: reviewed 25 July 2023, next review 25 July 2026; checked 12 October 2026 — the next review date has passed, and we give the page as shown). Months to years, how they spread, 4 dos and 4 don’ts, pharmacy up to 3 months and not on the face, 5 GP reasons, freezing and referral.
- Not read. Korean agency guidance on warts; information on corns.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean-setting translation.
Where else to check
- A pharmacist — wart creams and plasters.
Written on 12 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.