You’ve noticed small, grainy growths on your feet. They’re not calluses or corns; these are plantar warts. Though unsightly, this common podiatric problem is relatively harmless for most people. However, when warts form on the parts of the feet that bear weight or rub against your shoes, they can be uncomfortable or even painful—and if you have diabetes, poor circulation, or other underlying health issues, they can increase your risk of complication
Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with plantar warts. Michigan Foot & Ankle Specialists provide comprehensive care. Our experienced Dearborn podiatrist, Dr. Alexander Thomas, understands that traditional treatments for plantar warts often fall short. That’s why our podiatry practice offers a more effective option: Swift Therapy. Here’s what you should know about plantar warts and the benefits of this advanced treatment.
Understanding Plantar Warts and Their Causes
Warts form in response to a viral infection in the outer layers of the skin, specifically the papillomavirus (HPV). Strains of this virus thrive in moist, warm environments, such as gyms, locker rooms, showers, and other places where barefoot traffic is common. Sweaty socks and shoes can also be a haven for harmful organisms.
HPV enters the body through a weakness in the skin’s defenses—and it doesn’t take much. Even a tiny cut or crack in the skin can allow HPV to invade. Once inside, the virus causes raised, grainy growths or bumps to form in the location of the infection. These growths can appear just about anywhere, but when they develop on the feet, they’re called plantar warts. “Plantar” simply means “on the foot.”
The good news is that plantar warts eventually go away as the HPV infection clears the body. The bad news is that this can take a very long time—sometimes even years—and you may experience repeated outbreaks in the meantime.
If the warts aren’t painful and you don’t have any underlying health problems that increase the risk of complications, you can always try a home remedy or over-the-counter wart removal product. Unfortunately, these treatments typically fail to deliver the desired results.
For people with health issues or who want their plantar warts eliminated as soon as possible, we recommend professional treatment at our Dearborn podiatry practice.
Using Swift Microwave Therapy for Plantar Warts
Swift Therapy is a non-invasive, clinically tested, and FDA-approved treatment that uses microwave energy to target and destroy the HPV infection that causes plantar warts. This advanced therapy is a faster, safer, more effective—and more comfortable—way of addressing and eliminating plantar warts that harnesses the healing power of your body’s natural processes.
Here’s how it works:
- We lightly debride your warts for more effective results. Unlike traditional warts treatments, this does not involve cutting or breaking the skin.
- We use our Swift device to beam low-power microwave energy into the treatment area.
- The microwave energy creates a small amount of heat and friction within the skin, stimulating your immune system and triggering a response in the surrounding cells. It’s like placing a GPS target on the outer layers of the skin, which the immune system would otherwise ignore.
Kickstarting your immune system and helping it focus on the threat allows your body to eliminate warts more effectively. Instead of traditional treatments that cut out warts and apply acid, Swift Therapy heals from the inside out.
What to Expect
Swift Therapy typically consists of multiple treatments scheduled over several weeks. Each session is brief, taking only around three seconds to treat each affected area. Though there is sometimes minor discomfort associated with this therapy, it’s comparable to receiving an injection and only lasts for a second or two. Most patients tolerate the minor discomfort well, including children. However, we encourage patients to let us know if we can help ease pain or anxiety. After your Swift Therapy session, you can continue your day as normal. There’s no need for bandages or activity modifications.
Keeping Plantar Warts Away
Preventing plantar warts is easier than treating them. The following tips can help you stay wart-free or, if you currently have plantar warts, keep them from spreading:
- Keep your feet dry. Don’t spend all day in damp shoes and socks. Choose moisture-wicking socks and bring an extra pair, along with another pair of shoes, to change into if your feet are prone to excessive sweating.
- Avoid going barefoot in public. Don’t walk barefoot in public areas like gyms, locker rooms, and showers. A good pair of water shoes is a simple way to protect your feet.
- Don’t share nail care tools. Sharing tools like nail clippers can cause plantar warts to spread to others. We also recommend having separate clippers for toenails and fingernails to prevent spreading warts from hands to feet or vice versa.
- Avoid touching the warts. Try to avoid touching the warts as much as possible, since they’re an active source of the HPV virus. If you must touch the plantar warts, wash your hands thoroughly using warm water and anti-bacterial soap.