Plantar Warts

What is it?

Warts are a viral infection (human papilloma viruses) of the skin causing increased bulk of the tissue within the skin. Generally warts affect children of school age. The virus enters the skin through a cut or scratch and then causes the tissues to multiply and thickened. Usually, warts spread through direct contact, exposure to friction, trauma or abrasion, but the virus may also be spread in moist environments, such as showers and sports change rooms.

Appearance

• Rough, cauliflower-like surface that appear on the sole of  the feet. They sometimes have small black dots of thrombosed capillaries on the surface. They can vary in size from 5-50mm in diameter.
• Pinching of the lesion will cause pain.

Treatment

At Peel Podiatry we take pride in obtaining the latest, most effective, and safe treatment for our patients. After extensive research and reading, we have decided to proceed with the Swift Microwave as it ticked all the boxes. At  83% success rate, it is the most effective modality against wart.

What is Swift and how does it work?

Swift is a new technology, developed in the UK, which has been licenced for the general treatment of skin lesions in Podiatry and Dermatology. Swift uses microwave energy which is delivered through a special probe applied to the skin to treat the affected tissue. This safely heat up the infected tissues and raise the temperature to about 42-45°C inside the virucae. This causes the release of shock proteins to alert the body’s immune system to respond to the infected site/s to fight the virus. There will be sharp sensation felt during the treatment as the temperature raises but this only lasts for a  few seconds. Post treatment, there will no scaring, pain, messy dressing, and you don’t have to keep your foot dry. This means you can get back to your every life without any hassle.

How many treatments will I need?

This is dependent on how you respond to treatment. Most patients require 3-4 treatments 4 weeks apart or less.

No dressings are required.

There is no downtime.

No self care.

Your Podiatrist will be able to discuss your treatment plan.

What do I need to do after treatment?

Generally, no care is required afer Swift Microwave Therapy and you can carry on with our day as normal.

In <1 of cases, a small superficial blister may appear. If this occurs, please contact our Podiatrist for advise on what action to take. Usually, the intact blister can be left alone. In rare cases, mild discomfort can persist for up to 48 hours. If you notice a break in the skin, apply a topical antiseptic, cover the area with a dressing and contact our Podiatrist for further action.

What to expect after treatment?

It is unlikely that you will see any changes in the appearance of the lesion immediately after treatment.  It is normal to take a week or even a few months before noticing any transformation, as the wart will resolve from the base of the lesion and not at the surface. Small black dots may appear; this is a good sign that your immune system is responding to treatment.

Can anyone receive this treatment?

With a few exceptions, most people with skin lesions would be able to have this treatment. Please feel free to contact our podiatrist for an assessment and be able to advise you on this.