Faulkner’s Plantar Wart Needling

We are currently offering Faulkner’s Plantar Wart Needling at our Ryde clinic.

What is a Plantar Wart?

A plantar wart, or verruca, is a common skin infection on the sole of the foot caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The virus is contracted when you are barefoot in communal areas like swimming pools, showers, or changing rooms. Abrasive floor surfaces can cause tiny, unseen cuts and scrapes on the bottom of your feet, which allow the virus to enter the top layer of the skin. While often harmless, warts can become painful and are highly contagious.

What is Faulkner’s Plantar Wart Needling?

Faulkner’s Needling is a minor surgical procedure designed to treat stubborn plantar warts. Unlike other treatments that primarily destroy the wart tissue with acid or freezing, needling is specifically designed to elicit a targeted immune response from your own body. By creating a controlled injury, we introduce the viral particles to your immune system in a way that helps it recognise and fight off the HPV infection systemically (throughout your whole body).

Why is Needling Recommended?

Many warts persist because they are very good at hiding from the body’s immune system. While treatments like acids and cryotherapy (freezing) cause a local inflammatory reaction, their main goal is the physical destruction of the wart. Needling is different, and is often recommended for warts that have not responded to other treatments.

The key benefits include:

• High Success Rate: Clinical studies show a success rate of approximately 69% for complete resolution after a single treatment. This compares favourably to traditional methods like acids or freezing, which can have success rates between 20-50% and often require a long course of repeated applications.
• Minimal Appointments: Often, only a single treatment is required. A second may be performed if the wart doesn’t resolve after the first.
• Systemic Response: Because we are triggering a body-wide immune response, needling one wart can lead to the spontaneous resolution of other warts you may have, even on other parts of your body.
• Minimal Pain: The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, so you will not feel any pain during the treatment.

The Procedure: Before, During, and After

Before the Procedure:

• You will have an initial consultation with your podiatrist to confirm the diagnosis and ensure this is the right treatment for you.
• We will discuss your medical history, any medications you are taking, and any allergies you have.
• Please ensure you have eaten normally on the day of your procedure.
• You will need to arrange for transport home, as you will not be able to drive immediately after the procedure due to the local anaesthetic.

During the Procedure:

1. Anaesthetic: Your podiatrist will administer a local anaesthetic injection into your foot to completely numb the area around the wart.
2. Preparation: The area will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection.
3. Needling: A fine, sterile needle is used to repeatedly puncture the wart. This pushes the viral particles from the superficial layer of the skin into the deeper fatty tissue, where your immune system can detect and attack them.
4. Dressing: A sterile dressing will be applied to the site. The entire appointment typically takes about 45-60 minutes

After the Procedure:

• Rest: You should rest with your foot elevated for the remainder of the day.
• Pain Relief: You may feel some mild soreness or bruising once the anaesthetic wears off. You can take paracetamol if needed. Avoid anti-inflammatory medications (like Nurofen or Ibuprofen) for at least two weeks, as they can suppress the immune response we are trying to create.
• Dressing Care: Keep the dressing dry for the first 24 hours. After that, you may remove it and shower normally. A simple plaster can be applied for comfort if needed, but it is often not necessary after 48 hours.
• Follow-up: We will schedule follow-up appointments at 1 week and 8 weeks post-procedure to monitor your progress. It can take several months for the wart to fully resolve as your body’s immune system does its work.

Potential Risks and Complications

While this procedure is very safe, all minor surgical procedures carry some risk. These include:

• Infection: This is rare. Signs include significant pain, swelling, redness, and a smelly discharge. Please contact the clinic immediately if you notice these signs.
• Failure to Resolve: While the success rate is high, the treatment is not 100% effective and may not work for everyone.
• Pain: Some post-procedural discomfort is possible but is usually managed well with simple painkillers.
• Allergic Reaction: A reaction to the local anaesthetic is very rare but possible.
• Temporary Nerve Irritation: A small risk of temporary numbness or tingling around the procedure site.