How to Treat Plantar Warts
What are Plantar Warts?
Warts that form on the bottom of your foot are known as plantar warts. These rough, grainy liaisons appear with hard, thickened skin and may have block dots as well. Plantar warts can develop around the toes, on the balls of the feet, or on the heel.
Plantar warts aren’t always painful, but if left untreated, they can form into a large group that eventually impacts your foot’s functionality and your comfort.
Plantar warts come from the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the outer layer of the skin. Even a small break in the skin on the bottom of the foot can lead to the development of plantar warts.
People living in the same household can contract plantar warts through the shower and by touching the same floor or surfaces as an infected member. If you have any cuts or scrapes on your feet, HPV could enter the skin more easily. It is a good idea to wear flipflops instead of going barefoot in places like public pools, showers, or even locker rooms to help protect your feet from plantar warts.
It’s also important to note that plantar warts are not cancerous. These are non-life-threatening skin growths, but they can still be disruptive and even cause pain in some patients. Without treatment, plantar warts only grow larger and can spread quickly.
What is Swift Treatment for Plantar Warts?
Swift therapy is one of the most effective treatments we offer to aid in removing plantar warts. Swift therapy delivers a low dosage of microwave energy into the wart, which triggers the body’s immune to respond and attack the wart.
Swift treatment works by causing something called a “heat shock” to occur. The skin on the wart is heated to around 107 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit for several seconds; the incurring heat shock causes the affected wart to release proteins that trigger the immune system.
Once your immune system detects the HPV virus, it can begin attacking the wart-causing cells and treating the infection on its own.
There is no skin cutting, open wounds, smoke, or anesthetic during the procedure. Swift is a rapid treatment that’s safe and highly effective. Patients who have had plantar warts for over a decade have had them completely removed in 12 weeks.
Is Swift Treatment Safe?
Microwaves are a form of non-ionizing radiation, so they do not cause cancer or any other harm. They are perfectly safe to use and be exposed to. We also only administer extremely low dosages of microwave radiation to the warts, just enough to activate the cells within them.
What our podiatrists and patients love about Swift therapy is how effective and non-invasive it is. There is no freezing, burning, or surgical procedures involved. The entire therapy is done in our office, and you have no downtime or aftercare.
What are the Benefits of Swift Treatment?
- Much less painful than other plantar wart removal treatments.
- No aftercare is required.
- It works faster than other options and has no downtime.
- It doesn’t damage healthy skin around the affected area.
- Higher success rate than alternative plantar wart treatments.
Swift treatment for plantar warts is an FDA-cleared technology that targets the underlying HPV, not just the wart itself. While many over-the-counter medications can remove warts from the surface, they don’t completely eliminate the infected skill cells. As a result, warts tend to return quickly and seem unresponsive to treatments.
Swift has been successful in treating plantar warts that don’t respond to other interventions. Current success rates for treatment are 75% to 83% and under 1% of patients who undergo successful treatments experience recurring warts.
What Can I Expect From Swift Treatment Sessions?
Swift treatment for plantar warts takes around 10 minutes depending on how many warts we need to target. Most patients will require two to four sessions over several weeks to completely heal their plantar warts.
One of the most common questions we’re asked is, “Does Swift wart treatment hurt?” While it is not completely pain-free, the sensation of Swift treatment can be most closely compared to a prick of a needle.
Some people who are pain sensitive may experience slightly more discomfort, but the sessions do not last long, and the therapy is only applied for several seconds at a time.
Discomfort from Swift treatment subsides within a few seconds, and you won’t experience any lingering pain afterward.
Is Swift Therapy Effective as a Plantar Wart Treatment?
Swift wart therapy works in 83% of cases, making it the most advanced and effective form of plantar wart treatment available. At Midwest Podiatry, we’re excited to offer this innovative microwave therapy to patients in our practice.
If you’ve tried wart removal at home and seen no results, then Swift therapy could be the right solution for you. The procedure is safe, quick, and doesn’t require any bandages, incisions, or home care. All you have to do is sit for a short session (usually around 10 minutes), and you’ll be on your way.
How Many Swift Treatments Do You Need?
Naturally, you want to get rid of your plantar warts as quickly as possible, but therapy takes time. The exact number of Swift wart treatments you need will depend on the size and number of warts on your feet. More stubborn warts will take longer to remove. The sooner someone seeks treatment, the fewer sessions they’ll require.
Our team of podiatrists works with each patient to ensure they have a personalized care plan. We identify your needs before putting anything into action. We make sure you feel 100% comfortable and confident before proceeding with any treatments.
Get Rid of Your Warts Now With Our Advanced Swift Treatment Option
Plantar warts can be persistent, so if you’ve tried over-the-counter remedies to no avail, it’s time to get more serious. Swift is our top recommendation for anyone with warts on their feet, whether you’ve just discovered one or have had several for years.
Plantar warts, and HPV, can be hard for the body to fight off on its own. Some patients may have found mild success with at-home remedies, only to find the warts return in a matter of weeks.
Swift therapy is our top recommendation for plantar wart removal, and we would be happy to help you arrange your first treatment session.
Contact Midwest Podiatry Centers today to schedule your consultation with one of our doctors. You can reach us online or call us at (612) 788-8778.