Warts: Swift Treatment
Get the treatment you need at Riverchase Dermatology.
Swift Treatment is an effective treatment for surface-based skin lesions, primarily warts. Swift uses microwave technology to stimulate the body’s immune system to fight the virus.
Swift Treatment for Warts FAQs
Unlike other types of warts, plantar warts are typically quite painful as the pressure from walking and standing forces them to grow into your skin. (Plantar means “of the sole” in Latin.) Like all warts, plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus, specifically types 1, 2, 4, 60 and 63. Underneath the skin, the wart can have finger-like roots that reach down and grow, making them difficult to treat effectively from the surface.
Swift is a cutting edge, FDA-cleared technology that has proven to be highly effective in the removal of plantar warts. It delivers low-dose microwave energy through a specialized probe that targets and effectively treats the underlying HPV virus by stimulating a natural immune response in the body.
Swift protocol involves between three and four treatments, spaced four weeks apart to align with the body’s natural immune cycle. Each treatment lasts five to 10 minutes and is what we call a “sock off/sock on” treatment: No breaking of the skin and no bandages. No home treatment is required between treatments, and patients are able to resume daily activities immediately after treatment.
Swift harnesses the power of the patient’s immune system to target the root cause of the wart, so it’s very effective compared to other treatment methods.
Pain is patient- and lesion-specific, but most patients typically feel some level of discomfort as infected tissue temperatures are rapidly elevated over a two-second dose of energy. The pain immediately subsides and there is limited post procedural pain. Some patients report an immediate reduction in pain levels. All patients are able to continue on with day-to-day activities immediately following treatment.
Treatments for Warts: Swift Treatment
It’s important to visit a podiatrist if you suspect or feel that you have a plantar wart and are seeking removal. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more likely the wart is to persist. Here are some common symptoms to look out for:
- You may get the feeling of “painful pebbles” in your shoes.
- You may experience pain when you compress the sides of the wart.
- You may see a circular flat spot on the skin with a depressed area in the middle.
- The area may appear “yellowed” with a crust; small black dots are an easy giveaway for warts.
- The lesion on your foot is painful, bleeding or has changed color.
- Treatments you have tried have not worked, and the wart reoccurs or multiplies.
- You experience discomfort that prevents you from doing regular activities.
- Poor sensation in your feet.
- You are unsure if the lesion is a wart.
If you would like to get rid of your warts and/or explore Swift treatment for warts, please book a consultation with a Riverchase dermatology specialist online or by calling 1-800-591-3376. One of our providers will be happy to help you.