What is Verrutop?
Verrutop® is a new treatment in the UK and is a Class 2A Healthcare Product, which should only be used by a qualified medical professional. It is a topical solution based on a unique combination of three organic acids, lactic, acetic, and oxalic, which are combined with copper and zinc salts plus nitric acid to produce “Nitric Zinc Complex”. As the name suggests, it's formulated to treat verruca and warts. The treatment itself is safe, effective and sports an impressive evidence base which can be found below.
What is a verruca
Verruca is a skin infection caused by The Human Papilloma Virus. Viruses are made up of complex proteins and invade the outermost layer of the skin. It usually appears as a plaque of hard skin with an irregular border and can have black dots (blood vessels) scattered throughout. Verruca can be very painful and can appear on any part of the body. It is important to remember that the virus is contagious and can be spread to others.
How does it work?
The “Nitic Zinc Complex” Complex that Verrutop® consists of, triggers and accelerates two key processes, desiccation and denaturation. Verrutop's combination acts together to produce nitrites which denature viral proteins and desiccate the verruca, leaving intact epithelium behind as if the verruca had not been there.
The HPV virus at the heart of verruca and warts is a protein enclosed in a protein-based covering, otherwise known as a capsid. The virus itself consists of DNA which is inserted into the hosts cells such as skin, where it can then replicate. The capsid and DNA are highly sensitive to the effects of desiccation and denaturation which are the processes of dehydration and the break down and weakening of the structure of viral DNA.
The HPV virus at the heart of verruca and warts is a protein enclosed in a protein-based covering, otherwise known as a capsid. The virus itself consists of DNA which is inserted into the hosts cells such as skin, where it can then replicate. The capsid and DNA are highly sensitive to the effects of desiccation and denaturation which are the processes of dehydration and the break down and weakening of the structure of viral DNA.
What does treatment consist of?
Verrutop is applied to verruca via a small capillary tube. The surface of the verruca is covered in the solution. The verruca may change colour and appear a white/yellow colour. Patients will be advised to apply surgical spirit to the verruca twice a day between treatments to aid the desiccation process. The process will be repeated every two weeks up to a maximum of six sessions.
How effective is a Verrutop treatment?
A study involving 200 patients with 766 verrucae demonstrated an 89.3% clearance rate within 6 treatment sessions.
Further studies can be downloaded here: C. Viennet. et al. & Giacaman. et al.
Further studies can be downloaded here: C. Viennet. et al. & Giacaman. et al.