The advice listed below can help to prevent a wart or a verruca developing.
- Do not touch other people’s warts.
- Do not share towels, flannels or other personal items with someone who has a wart.
- Do not share shoes or socks with someone who has a verruca.
- Avoid scratching or picking your wart or verruca as this will encourage HPV to spread to other parts of your body.
- Take care when shaving because the virus can be spread easily if you cut yourself.
- Keep your feet dry and change your socks every day to help prevent warts developing on your feet.
Communal activities
Cover your wart or verruca when you are taking part in communal activities. For example:
- wear flip-flops or pool slippers in shared areas, such as showers and swimming pool changing rooms
- cover your wart or verruca with a waterproof plaster or a special verruca sock (available at pharmacies) when you go swimming or when you are doing physical education at school
- wear gloves when using shared equipment, such as gym equipment (if you have a wart on your hand)
