Say goodbye to stubborn foot warts. Say hello to SWIFT.

Treatment now available

Are you tired of dealing with annoying warts? We at Foxhall Podiatry Associates are excited to announce that we have a brand new and effective treatment for surface-based skin lesions, primarily warts.

Plantar warts; a common and stubborn Viral Infection

“Plantar” means “Of the sole” in Latin. 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. 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 very difficult to treat effectively from the surface. The warts stay in the epidermis and one’s immune system is in the dermis and that is how they are you able to grow without one’s immune system taking notice of them.

Typical wart treatments

The normal treatments include excision, chemical using various acids, cryotherapy, botulism toxin, cauterization, and autoinoculation. The common thread is – destruction of tissue which results in pain, inflammation, and downtime.

What is Swift?

Swift is a cutting-edge, FDA Cleared technology that has proven to be highly effective in the resolution 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. We like to say that we are addressing the root cause, not the symptom.

What to Expect?

Swift protocol involves between 3 and 4 treatments, spaced 4 weeks apart: aligning with the body’s natural immune cycle. Each treatment lasts only 5-10 minutes. We debride the site to improve the result. No home treatment is required between treatments, and patients can resume daily activities immediately post-treatment. This is especially good for those involved in sports.

How effective is Swift?

Due to Swift harnessing the power of the patient’s immune system to target the root cause of the wart (HPV), efficacy is significantly higher compared to other treatment methods. 

Does it hurt?

While pain is variable and patient/lesion-specific, most patients typically feel some level of discomfort as infected tissue temperatures are rapidly elevated over a 2-second dose of energy. The pain immediately subsides following cessation of energy delivery, and there is limited post-procedural pain. In fact, some report an immediate reduction in pain levels. All patients can continue with day-to-day activities immediately following treatment.

When should you come to see us?

It is important to visit a podiatrist for any lower extremity skin or toenail issue or 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.
• They may appear with thick skin. small black dots, skin lines, and they can bleed easily.
• The lesion on your foot is painful, bleeding, or has changed color.
• Treatments you have tried do not work, and the wart reoccurs or multiplies.
• Discomfort prevents you from doing regular activities.
• Poor sensation in your feet.
• You are unsure if the lesion is a wart.
• Any time we are unsure if we are dealing with a wart, a biopsy of that skin is performed.

What to do Next?

If you would like to explore Swift Treatment, please call us at 202-966-4811 to learn more or schedule an appointment at Foxhall Podiatry Associates.