Wart and Verruca Removal London 2026. Doctor-Led Cryotherapy at The Online GP by The Wellness
Last updated. May 2026. Medically reviewed by GMC-registered doctors at The Online GP by The Wellness, Marylebone.
Wart and verruca removal in London is available from £295 at The Online GP by The Wellness in Marylebone, where a GMC-registered doctor performs the diagnosis and cryotherapy treatment in a single 30-minute visit. The NHS no longer routinely funds wart and verruca removal in adults following the September 2024 Evidence-Based Interventions policy update, which classified non-genital viral warts in immunocompetent adults as not eligible for NHS-funded removal. Same-day appointments are routinely available.
Doctor-led wart and verruca removal from £195 with same-day availability.WhatsApp +44 7961 280835 | Email team@thewellnesslondon.com | Call 020 3951 3429.
What is a wart and what is a verruca
Warts and verrucas are both caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), of which there are more than 100 known subtypes. The virus infects the outermost layer of the skin (epidermis), triggers thickening of keratin, and produces the characteristic firm, rough lesion that we recognise as a wart.
A wart is the general term, applied most often to lesions on the hands, fingers, face, knees, and elbows. A verruca is specifically a wart on the sole of the foot, where the lesion grows inwards due to the pressure of body weight, creating the characteristic flat, hard, often painful lesion with the small dark dots (thrombosed capillaries) that distinguish it from a corn or callus.
Warts are extremely common. The NHS estimates that three in four people will have at least one wart during their lifetime. They are most prevalent in children and young adults. Adults can develop warts at any age, particularly if their immune system is briefly suppressed by stress, illness, or medication. Warts are contagious through direct skin-to-skin contact and through contaminated surfaces such as swimming pool floors, shared shower mats, and shared towels.
Most warts will resolve spontaneously without treatment. Around 65 percent clear within two years and 90 percent within five years. The question facing patients is rarely whether the wart will go away. The question is how long they are willing to wait, and whether they want to risk transmitting the virus to family members, gym users, or work colleagues in the meantime.
The types of wart we treat at The Online GP by The Wellness
Common warts (verruca vulgaris). Rough, raised, often grey or skin-coloured lesions on the hands, fingers, knees, and elbows. Caused most often by HPV types 2 and 4. Respond well to cryotherapy in most cases.
Plantar warts (verrucas). On the soles of the feet. Often painful with weight-bearing. Frequently mistaken for corns or calluses. The defining features are the disruption of normal skin lines (corns and calluses preserve them) and small dark dots inside the lesion (thrombosed capillaries). Cryotherapy is effective but verrucas often require two to four sessions because the lesion is buried inwards under pressure.
Plane (flat) warts. Smooth, flat-topped, often skin-coloured or light brown. Most common on the face, neck, and backs of the hands. Caused by HPV types 3 and 10. Tend to occur in clusters. CryoPen is preferred for flat warts because of its precision in delicate areas.
Filiform warts. Long, narrow, finger-like projections from the skin, usually on the face (around the eyes, nose, mouth) and neck. Caused by HPV type 7. CryoPen or shave excision treats these effectively.
Periungual warts (around the nail). Particularly stubborn because the nail bed protects deeper viral reservoirs. Often need two to four cryotherapy sessions. Spread easily through nail-biting and finger-sucking, so behavioural change is part of the treatment.
Mosaic warts. Clusters of small, closely-packed plantar warts that have merged into a tile-like pattern. Treatment is more involved and may require salicylic acid combined with cryotherapy. The doctor will discuss the staged approach.
What we do not treat with simple cryotherapy. Genital warts (HPV types 6 and 11) are managed differently because of their location and the importance of partner screening. The Online GP by The Wellness offers a private, discreet pathway for genital wart assessment and treatment with full sexual health screening, separately from this article. Lip and mouth warts also require specialist care.
Why the NHS no longer routinely treats warts in adults
Wart removal was once a routine part of general practice. Most GP surgeries kept a Cry-Ac canister and treated warts during ordinary appointments. The September 2024 update to the Evidence-Based Interventions guidance (version 4.0) changed this.
Under the current EBI policy, non-genital viral warts in immunocompetent adults are not routinely funded for removal on the NHS. The criteria for NHS-funded treatment are narrow. Facial viral warts causing significant psychological distress in under 18s who are able to tolerate cryotherapy. Diagnostic uncertainty. Patients who are immunocompromised. For everyone else, the policy recommends watchful waiting given that most warts resolve spontaneously.
The clinical logic is reasonable. The financial pressure on the NHS is real. The lived experience for the patient with a painful verruca that has been there for 18 months, or a visible wart on the hand that has not budged despite over-the-counter treatments, is that the NHS is no longer the place where this gets fixed.
Private treatment is now the standard route for adults. The Online GP by The Wellness provides the doctor-led service that the NHS has stepped away from, with full GMC and CQC accreditation, at competitive Marylebone pricing.
Pricing across London. Where The Online GP by The Wellness sits
The London market for wart and verruca removal ranges from £14 nurse-led freeze-pen sessions to £375 for first lesion treatment at top-tier Harley Street dermatology clinics. The Online GP by The Wellness sits in the doctor-led mid-market.
ProviderConsultationFirst wartAdditional same-visitClinical leadThe Online GP by The Wellness, MaryleboneIncluded£195£75 eachGMC-registered doctorHarley Street Skin ClinicFree£375£175 eachDoctor-ledCity Dermatology Clinic£100£195 to £295VariableDoctor-ledSelf London (Harley Street)Variablefrom £150VariableConsultant dermatologistThe GP Surgery London (Wimbledon, Fulham)Includedfrom £1253 for £125GP-ledPerfect Image ConsultantsFreefrom £90 (2mm)£25 per extra mmDoctor-ledGet A Drip / wellness cryo studiosVariablen/aWhole body onlyTherapist-led
Prices verified May 2026. Whole-body cryotherapy chambers used by wellness studios are not equivalent to medical wart treatment and are not offered for that purpose at compliant clinics.
The Online GP by The Wellness multi-lesion package at £395 covers up to five warts in the same area, including the consultation, dermatoscopic examination where indicated, treatment, written aftercare, and follow-up. Harley Street Skin Clinic at £375 plus £175 each per additional lesion would total around £900 for the same five-wart visit.
Get a quote for your specific warts within the hour.WhatsApp +44 7961 280835 or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
How wart removal works at The Online GP by The Wellness
The clinic uses a combination of techniques selected per wart by the doctor.
Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen for stubborn warts. Liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees Celsius is the most powerful clinical cryotherapy. It is applied by spray or cotton applicator for 10 to 30 seconds per lesion, often with a brief thaw and a second freeze cycle (the freeze-thaw-freeze protocol shown in trials to improve clearance rates).
CryoPen (nitrous oxide) for smaller and facial warts. A precision device at minus 89 degrees Celsius delivers a fine jet of nitrous oxide. Preferred for facial, periocular, and small warts where collateral damage to surrounding skin must be minimised.
Combined cryotherapy and salicylic acid. Cochrane reviews (most recently 2022) show that the combination of cryotherapy plus daily salicylic acid (40 to 50 percent) at home is more effective than either alone for plantar warts. The doctor will prescribe a high-strength salicylic acid preparation as part of the treatment plan where indicated.
Curettage and cautery for resistant warts. When two cryotherapy sessions have not cleared a wart, the doctor may scrape the wart away under local anaesthetic and cauterise the base. This is the most reliable single-treatment option for thick, well-established warts.
Topical immunotherapy referral. For very resistant warts in immunocompetent patients, dermatology referral for diphencyprone, imiquimod, or intralesional bleomycin may be appropriate. The Online GP by The Wellness refers directly to consultant dermatologists at adjacent Harley Street clinics.
The cryotherapy session. What to expect on the day
The clinic is at Marylebone, three minutes from Baker Street tube and adjacent to Harley Street. Same-day appointments are routinely available.
Arrival. Reception will confirm details. No NHS registration is required.
Doctor consultation (20 minutes). The GMC-registered doctor confirms the lesion is a wart (not a corn, callus, seborrhoeic keratosis, or rarely something else), assesses the location and size, asks about previous home treatments, and explains the procedure.
Treatment. Liquid nitrogen or CryoPen applied for 10 to 30 seconds per wart. A second freeze cycle is performed for thicker lesions after a 30-second thaw. Most patients describe the freeze as a sharp burning sensation lasting 10 to 30 seconds. Verrucas on the sole of the foot can be more uncomfortable due to nerve density. Topical numbing cream is available on request.
Salicylic acid prescription where indicated. Particularly for plantar warts, you will leave with a prescription for high-strength salicylic acid (typically 40 to 50 percent) to apply at home between cryotherapy sessions.
Aftercare and follow-up. Written aftercare instructions cover blister care, when to expect the lesion to fall away, and signs of infection. Follow-up at 4 weeks for a second cryotherapy session is included in the multi-session package for stubborn warts.
Most appointments take 30 to 45 minutes from arrival to departure.
How many sessions will I need
This is the question patients most want answered honestly.
Common warts on hands and fingers. Around 50 percent clear after one cryotherapy session. Around 80 percent clear after two sessions. The remainder may need three to four sessions or escalation to curettage.
Plantar warts (verrucas). More stubborn because of their depth. Around 30 percent clear after one session. Around 60 percent clear after two sessions. Plantar warts often need two to four sessions plus daily salicylic acid at home.
Plane (flat) warts. Variable. Often respond well to gentle cryotherapy but recur in clusters. Two to three sessions is typical.
Periungual (nail-area) warts. Often need three to six sessions because of the protective effect of the nail.
Filiform warts. Often clear in a single session with shave excision plus cryotherapy.
The Online GP by The Wellness offers a stubborn wart package at £495 covering three cryotherapy sessions over 8 weeks, salicylic acid prescription, and final follow-up review. Compared with £195 plus £125 plus £125 paid session by session (£445 total), the package is essentially priced the same with the added accountability that you are committed to completing the course. A 2020 Cochrane review concluded that completion of a proper treatment course is the single biggest predictor of cure, larger than the choice of technique. The package exists because finishing the course is what matters.
Book a stubborn wart package or single session.WhatsApp +44 7961 280835 | Email team@thewellnesslondon.com | Call 020 3951 3429.
Verruca-specific guidance. Why feet need a different approach
Verrucas (plantar warts) differ from other warts in three clinically important ways.
Depth. Body weight forces the verruca inwards rather than outwards. The visible lesion is often the tip of a larger underlying mass. Standard cryotherapy reaches the surface but may underdose the deeper tissue. The doctor will pare away the surface hyperkeratosis with a scalpel before freezing to allow deeper penetration.
Pain. The sole of the foot is densely innervated. Verruca freezing is more uncomfortable than wart freezing on the hand. Topical numbing cream applied 30 minutes before the procedure helps significantly.
Recurrence and spread. The warm, moist environment of socks and shoes is ideal for HPV survival. Cross-infection to the other foot or to family members is common. The doctor will discuss footwear hygiene, swimming pool sock use, and household precautions to minimise transmission.
The treatment plan for a verruca therefore looks slightly different. Initial paring of the surface. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen for the deepest freeze available. Daily salicylic acid 40 to 50 percent at home between sessions. Repeat cryotherapy at 4-week intervals until cleared. Most verrucas need two to four sessions in total.
The clinic also stocks medical-grade duct tape (used as an immunomodulatory dressing supported by some clinical trials) as an adjunct for resistant verrucas.
Doctor-led versus pharmacy and home freeze treatments
Patients often try home remedies first. Pharmacy freeze-spray products such as Bazuka, Wartner, and Scholl Freeze sell over the counter for £10 to £20.
These products work to a degree. A 2018 BMJ Open meta-analysis of over-the-counter wart treatments found that pharmacy freeze-sprays cleared around 30 to 40 percent of warts after the recommended treatment course. Clinical cryotherapy in primary care clears around 60 to 75 percent of warts. The difference is the temperature reached. Home products reach minus 50 to minus 60 degrees Celsius. Clinical cryotherapy reaches minus 89 to minus 196 degrees Celsius. The cellular destruction threshold for reliable lesion clearance is below minus 60 degrees Celsius.
For a single small wart of recent onset, a pharmacy product is reasonable to try first. For warts that have been present for over 6 months, have been treated previously without success, are painful, are spreading, or are in a visible location, doctor-led cryotherapy is more likely to work in fewer attempts.
The financial calculation often comes out in favour of doctor-led care. Three pharmacy freeze-sprays at £50 each that do not clear the wart equals £245 plus three months of remaining symptoms. One doctor-led cryotherapy session at £295 clears 60 to 75 percent of warts on first attempt. Two sessions clear around 80 percent. The investment frame becomes obvious when the alternative is six months of failed home treatment followed by paying for a doctor anyway.
After your wart treatment. The healing timeline
Day 0. Sharp stinging for 5 to 20 minutes after treatment. The treated area looks red and slightly swollen. Paracetamol is sufficient. Continue normal activities. For verrucas, avoid prolonged walking for the rest of the day.
Day 1 to 3. A blister forms within 24 to 48 hours. Sometimes the blister contains a small amount of blood, which is normal. Do not pop the blister deliberately. If the blister is large and uncomfortable, the clinic can advise on safe drainage.
Day 4 to 10. Blister dries into a scab. Wash gently once daily with mild soap and water. Apply salicylic acid daily as prescribed (for plantar warts and stubborn warts).
Day 10 to 21. Scab gradually falls away. For thick warts and verrucas, the underlying wart tissue may still be visible at this stage and is normal.
Week 4. Follow-up appointment for assessment. If the wart has cleared, no further treatment is needed. If it persists, a second cryotherapy session is performed. Most warts need one to three sessions in total.
Signs to message the clinic. Spreading redness, warmth, fever, or persistent pus suggest infection (uncommon, around 1 to 2 percent) and respond to a short course of oral antibiotics. WhatsApp the clinic on +44 7961 280835 and a doctor will assess by photograph within hours.
Frequently asked questions
Are warts contagious. Yes. HPV is transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact and via contaminated surfaces. The contagiousness is highest when the wart is new and shedding actively. Treated warts that have fully resolved are not contagious.
Can I go to the gym, swimming pool, or yoga during treatment. Cover the wart with a waterproof dressing for swimming pools and gym mats. Wear flip-flops in communal showers. Do not share towels or razors. Plantar warts in particular spread easily in wet communal areas.
Does cryotherapy work on resistant warts. For warts that have failed two cryotherapy sessions, the success rate of further cryotherapy alone diminishes. The doctor will discuss escalating to curettage and cautery under local anaesthetic, or referral to dermatology for topical immunotherapy.
Can I have warts removed during pregnancy. Yes for non-genital warts. Cryotherapy is safe in pregnancy because the cold effect is localised. Genital warts in pregnancy require specialist obstetric and dermatology input, and the clinic will arrange this if needed.
My child has warts. Can you treat them. Yes from age 8 and above where the child can tolerate the procedure. For younger children, watchful waiting is often recommended given the high spontaneous clearance rate in children. The doctor will discuss whether treatment is appropriate at consultation.
What about my immune system. Recurrent or widespread warts can sometimes be the first visible sign of a problem with the immune system. The doctor will ask about general health, recent infections, and medications. Blood tests including full blood count and immunoglobulin levels are available on the same visit if relevant.
Do you do genital warts. Yes, but in a separate dedicated sexual health appointment with full STI screening included. Genital warts require a different clinical pathway because of the need for partner notification, cervical screening status, and HPV-related health discussion.
Can I claim this on private health insurance. Most insurers exclude warts as cosmetic. Where there is documented pain, recurrent infection, or impact on function (verruca preventing weight-bearing), a clinical letter on request may support a claim. Many patients self-pay and consider it a one-off cost compared with months of failed home treatment.
How quickly can I be seen. Same-day appointments can sometimes be available before midday. Most enquiries receive a same-hour WhatsApp response during clinic hours.
How to book wart or verruca removal
The clinic is in Marylebone, central London, three minutes from Baker Street tube and adjacent to Harley Street. Same-day appointments are routinely available.
Three ways to enquire.
WhatsApp. Photograph the wart or verruca and describe how long it has been present and what you have tried. A doctor responds within the hour during clinic hours with suitability and pricing. Open WhatsApp +44 7961 280835.
Email.team@thewellnesslondon.com. Include photographs if possible.
Phone. 020 3951 3429.
International patients welcome. No NHS registration, UK address, or GP referral required. Multilingual doctors available in English, Arabic, Spanish, French, and Dutch.
Medical disclaimer and authorship
This article is for general information and does not constitute medical advice for any individual case. Warts and verrucas can occasionally resemble other lesions including molluscum contagiosum, seborrhoeic keratosis, and rarely malignant lesions including squamous cell carcinoma (particularly in older patients or in long-standing lesions that have changed). Proper diagnosis requires direct clinical examination. If you notice a lesion that is changing, bleeding spontaneously, or causing new symptoms, please seek prompt assessment.
About The Online GP by The Wellness. The Online GP by The Wellness is a private healthcare group providing doctor-led medical services from our Marylebone clinic adjacent to Harley Street. All doctors are GMC-registered. Contact us on WhatsApp at +44 7961 280835, email team@thewellnesslondon.com, or call 020 3951 3429.
References.
NHS England. Evidence-Based Interventions Programme, version 4.0. September 2024.
Kwok CS et al. Topical treatments for cutaneous warts. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Updated 2022.
British Association of Dermatologists. Patient information leaflet on viral warts. Updated 2025.
NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary. Warts and verrucae. Updated 2025.
Sterling JC et al. British Association of Dermatologists guidelines for the management of cutaneous warts. British Journal of Dermatology. Updated 2014 and 2024.
Royal College of General Practitioners. Curriculum for general practice, dermatology module. Updated 2024.
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