Warts (verruca) are caused by the human papillomavirus. There are many different wart viruses and they often contain small purple dots (capillaries). It is important to help your body recognise that you have a wart by stimulating your immune system.
At Foot Fix Clinic we use two treatment options:
NOTE: It is important to remove any hard skin covering the wart prior to any treatments to enhance penetration of the warty tissue.
SWIFT therapy is a state of the art machine that uses microwave energy to trigger an immune response. It has a high success rate even for stubborn warts. It is non-invasive, quick and does not require any dressings post treatment. It is conducted on a monthly basis and on average 3 treatments are required.
Salicylic Acid helps to soften the surrounding skin and draw the wart to the surface.
You may have even purchased some products containing salicylic acid from the chemist already. Over the counter wart treatment products normally contain between 20-40% salicylic acid.
In our clinic you will be assessed for a much higher concentration (60-80%). On average most patients require 3 wart treatments and these are administered weekly.
Warts are like icebergs, you can only see the tip and we cant determine how big it is underneath the skin. For this reason, during treatment as the wart comes to the surface, it can appear larger in size causing a misconception that “its getting worse”.
What is Swift Microwave Therapy for Verruca Lesions?
Swift Microwave Therapy is a non-invasive and highly effective treatment option for skin lesions such as warts, papillomas or verrucae.
What do I need to do after treatment?
Generally, no care is required after Swift Microwave Therapy and you can carry on with your day as normal.
In few cases, a superficial blister may appear. If this occurs, you may contact your Swift Healthcare Professional who can advise you on what action to take. Usually, the intact blister can be left alone. In rare cases, discomfort may persist for several days after treatment. If you notice a break in the skin, apply a topical antiseptic; cover the area with a dressing and contact your Swift Healthcare Professional for further advice.
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 months before noticing any transformation, as the wart will resolve from the base of the lesion and not the surface. Small black dots may appear; this is a good sign that your immune system is responding to treatment.
My wart is looking worse after treatment!
If you start to notice that the wart is larger or that more warts have appeared, don’t be alarmed. This is a positive sign that the wart is responding. It is likely that you are now noticing more warts than before as they have become darker or that the deep warts are starting to break through the skin. Warts will generally look worse before they start to resolve.
How long will it take to resolve?
Patience is key! Time taken for your wart to resolve can range from 6 weeks to 9 months after treatment.
On average it takes 80 days to resolve. There is no way of determining how quickly your immune system will respond to treatment.