Causes

When the verruca virus (HPV) infects skin, it causes an excessive production of skin cells resulting in a hard and rough skin texture.
Because HPV can have a very long incubation period (the time between contracting the virus and seeing the verruca), it’s not always easy to tell where you may have picked it up, which means that it’s very important to always take preventative measures.
We’ll look at these measures later.

It’s been estimated that most

people will be infected with

some type of HPV at some point

in life

Verrucas are very contagious, and it is believed they gain access to the body via tiny cuts in the skin. Communal areas where people’s bare feet come in contact with the floor (such as gym showers or around a swimming pool) are typical places where you can pick up the virus.

All it takes is for someone with a verruca to walk barefoot across the floor, and there is the possibility of

contamination with infected skin cells, so be sure to wear your shoes!

To avoid cross contamination, never share shoes, socks or towels, or indulge in toe-wrestling with somebody who has a verruca.