Wart Needling Technique Removal Procedure

Feet First Podiatry

1. What is a Foot Wart?

A foot wart, also known as a plantar wart, is a small, grainy growth that appears on the soles (bottoms) of your feet. These warts are caused by a viral infection in the top layer of the skin and are non-cancerous. Because of the pressure from walking and standing, foot warts may grow inward and develop a hard, thick layer of skin over them, often resembling a callus.

They can occur as a single wart or as a cluster (called mosaic warts) and are most commonly found on the heel or ball of the foot—areas that bear the most pressure.

2. What Causes Foot Warts?

Foot warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus enters the body through tiny cuts, cracks, or weak spots on the bottom of the foot. It thrives in warm, moist environments like:

Public swimming pools
Communal showers
Gym, Locker rooms

Not everyone exposed to HPV will develop warts—people with weakened immune systems or those with frequent barefoot exposure are at higher risk.

3. What are the Signs and Symptoms?

Common signs and symptoms of foot warts include:

🦶 Small, rough growths on the sole of the foot
⚪ A central black dot (often called a wart seed), which is actually a small clotted blood vessel
👣 Thickened skin or callus over the wart
😣 Pain or tenderness when walking or standing
🚫 Disruption of normal foot function—particularly when the wart is in a weight-bearing area

Needling Technique for Wart Treatment

Minimum Investment, Maximum Benefit

Falkner’s Technique is an approved, evidence-based treatment designed to stimulate your body’s immune system to fight off HPV. Under local anaesthesia, only one wart is carefully punctured using a fine needle to reach just below the skin (subcutis). This encourages local bleeding and immune activation. Surprisingly, the body’s immune system not only clears the treated wart, but also begins attacking other untreated warts elsewhere on the body.

Why Choose This Technique?

✅ High Success Rate:
85.4% experienced complete clearance of the needled wart
68.3% showed full clearance of all warts, including those not treated directly.
✅ Minimally Invasive: No surgical removal. Just a few needle punctures under anaesthetic.
✅ Cost-Effective: No need for multiple expensive treatments or equipment.
✅ Quick Recovery: Most patients resume normal activities within 3 to 4 days.