Foot health

Question 1

What are verrucas and warts caused by?

Answer 1

• HPV virus

- Spread via direct contact with the wart/verruca

Question 2

Why do some warts appear years after exposure?

Answer 2

• The virus can replicate in epithelial cells and can

incubate for years

Question 3

Are the black dots the root of the wart/verruca?

Answer 3

No, they are hardened capillaries where the blood has clotted

Question 4

What are the treatment options for verrucas and warts?

Answer 4

• Salicylic acid
  *Bazuka
  soften wart by soaking in water
  apply treatment as it says on medicine
  once treatment is dry, cover it with a plaster
  repeat daily until it disappears
• Cryotherapy
• Scholl Freeze

Question 5

What advice can you give for verrucas and warts?

Answer 5

Wash hands before and after touching verruca or wart
Change socks daily
Cover with a plaster
Flip flops warn in communal areas
Do not share shoes or socks
Do not scratch or pick verrucas and warts

Question 6

When should you refer a patient with verrucas and warts?

Answer 6

Diabetic
Vascular disease
Bleeding or a colour change
Facial or genital
No change after using treatment
Immunosuppressed

Question 7

What symptoms are you experiencing with athletes foot?

Answer 7

• Red and sore between toes
• Flakey
• Burning sensation
• Skin may crack or bleed

Question 8

How can you treat athletes foot?

Answer 8

Anti Fungal Creams
Miconazole - apply 2x daily for 2-3 weeks, then for 1 weeks after symptoms gone
Terbinafine - apply 1x daily for 1 week
*over 16s only

Question 9

What advice can you give for athletes foot?

Answer 9

Avoid tight fitting clothes made from synthetic materials
Wash feet and dry before applying treatment, making sure you get in between the toes
Use separate towel for feet and wash it often
Take shoes off when at home and replace with looser fitting shoes like flip flops
Wear clean socks daily

Question 10

When should you see a GP?

Answer 10

Spread to other parts of feet
Suspected secondary infection
Treatment failure
Diabetic

Question 11

What can you offer for a fungal nail?

Answer 11

Scholl Amorolafine nail lacquer 
-Applied 1x a week
-File nail and clean before application
*do not use same file for healthy nails
-Can take 9-12 months so do not expect immediate results
Scholl fungal nail treatment
-Applied 1x daily
-Repeat for weeks 2,3 and 4 of use
-For 5th week apply to infected nail for 1x a week

Question 12

What advice can you give for fungal nail?

Answer 12

Treat athletes foot to stop is spreading to nail
Keep feet clean and dry
Clean socks
Flip flops in shoer and at home
Throw away OR wash old shoes at high temperature

Question 13

When should you refer with fungal nail?

Answer 13

More than two nails affected
Diabetic
Treatment failure