Swift Microwave Therapy for Warts
Swift Microwave Therapy for Warts (A.K.A. Papillomas or Verrucas)
What are warts?
Warts are a common contagious infection in the outer layers of the skin caused by the HPV (Human Papillomavirus).
They can be unsightly, painful and can easily spread to other areas of our body and from person to person.
Warts are exceedingly difficult to get rid of as they are excellent at evading the body’s immune system.
What is Swift Microwave Therapy?
SWIFT is medical microwave technology that is highly effective at resolving warts, verrucae or papillomas.
A focused microwave signal is emitted into the skin to a predetermined depth to ensure only the wart is treated.
A process called ‘Heat Shock’ occurs within infected skin cells. This causes the wart to release certain proteins into the circulatory system, allowing the immune system to recognise the infection and begin to fight the virus.
What will I feel?
The rapid heating of the wart to 42°C -45°C can cause discomfort, however this lasts for only one to two seconds. This temperature range is merely a few degrees warmer than a hot bath and will not cause any serious tissue damage or scarring.
‘Microwave therapy? That sounds scary.’ How safe is it?
Microwaves are a form of non-ionising radiation, which means that they cannot cause damage to the DNA of living things. SWIFT uses very low energy levels that are only able to vibrate water molecules within skin cells.
How many treatments will I need?
This is dependent on how you respond to treatment and how stubborn the wart is. Most patients require 3 treatments. Your Podiatrist will be able to discuss your treatment plan with you.
Can anyone receive this treatment?
With a few exceptions, most people with skin lesions would be able to have this treatment. Your Podiatrist will carry out an assessment prior to treatment and be able to advise you on this.
How effective is it?
Based on data collected and analysed from post market surveillance (July 2017 of trained SWIFT users), SWIFT has an 83% resolution rate which is higher than any other wart treatment available.
Benefits of Swift Microwave Therapy
- Rapid treating time
- No dressings required
- No need to self-care
- Pain relief post treatment
- Fewer treatment sessions required
- Does not disrupt lifestyle and activity
- Highly effective
When should I treat my warts?
Warts can sometimes go away on their own, this may take a few months to a couple of years. If you do opt for this ‘wait and see approach’, here are a few tips to follow to prevent further spread:
- Wash your hands regularly
- Maintain good foot hygiene
- Refrain from touching or picking the wart
- Cover it with a bandage
- Wear footwear to protect your feet when in communal areas such as: showers, changerooms or swimming pools
However, we strongly recommend consulting your Podiatrist if:
- The wart becomes larger
- Multiple warts start to appear in different areas
- The wart becomes tender, uncomfortable or painful
- There are signs of infection such as pus around the area
