The common wart is known as verruca vulgaris and is caused by a viral infection (commonly known as the human papillomavirus or HPV) of the skin. This occurs as a result of direct contact with the virus and has the appearance of thick, scaly skin. They can develop as small, single warts or can cluster into large areas, and often resemble plantar calluses. A simple way to tell the difference between a wart and a callus is to squeeze the lesion between your fingers in a pinching fashion. If it is painful, it is likely that the lesion is a wart. A callus is generally not painful with this maneuver but is tender with direct pressure by pressing directly on the lesion.
There are a variety of ways to treat plantar warts. Professionally, treatment(s) can consist of burning the wart with topical acids, freezing with liquid nitrogen, laser surgery or cutting them out. Recently, a cutting edge, FDA Cleared technology has been developed to treat skin lesions called Swift and we’re proud to be one of the few clinics in Michigan to offer this method!
Swift offers our patients significantly faster, easier, safer, and more effective results for wart removal than previous methods. The procedure itself only takes a couple of seconds, and through the use of a handheld tool, our podiatrists deliver lower-power microwave energy to the layers of skin surrounding the wart. The microwaves excite water molecules and generate heat and friction, which in turn draws in proteins and activates your immune system (your immune system normally ignores the layers of skin where warts form and that’s why warts take so long to go away on their own). With Swift, you direct your body’s attention exactly where it needs to go, and help it quickly build up an immunity to the strand of HPV causing your wart.
Additionally, aside from minor discomfort during the 2-3 seconds of application, the Swift treatment is virtually painless and will not restrict you from your normal activities!
To schedule an appointment or to discuss Swift treatments further with one of our podiatrists, feel free to contact our office at (248)348-5300 or schedule an appointment online today.
