At this time of year, with the increase in the temperature, we typically see an increase in embarrassing plantar warts! If you have a painful area on the bottom of your foot, feel like you are walking on a piece of glass, or have what feels like a callus that just won’t go away, you may have plantar warts. Today Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA is sharing more information regarding those pesky warts.
Summertime is also commonly referred to by podiatrists as “wart season.” Together with the excitement of the warmer weather, comes the desire to walk barefoot.... especially in and around the pool deck or in the locker room.
But unfortunately, walking barefoot just one time is enough to contract plantar warts, which are viruses that can be passed from person to person. Warts survive in moist, warm environments, which makes areas such as locker rooms, the boardwalk, and pool decks, common places to contract warts.
Plantar warts are small, coarse areas located on the bottom of the feet that often hurt when walking or when pressed. In some cases, you can see a dark brown or red discoloration inside the wart.
Warts are triggered by the human papillomavirus, and adolescents, teenagers, patients who are immunocompromised, and those who have previously experienced plantar warts are all at risk. But healthy adults who go barefoot in contaminated areas can also be affected by them.
There are several treatments that your podiatrist can use to get rid of plantar warts and many over-the-counter treatment products, but they can cause chemical burns if misused.
If you’re tired of dealing with pesky warts, we’re excited to announce that we have a new and effective treatment for surface-based skin lesions, primarily warts. It’s called Swift!
Swift is a cutting-edge, technology (approved by the FDA) that has shown to be very effective in the elimination of plantar warts. It distributes a minimal dose of microwave energy via a probe that targets and effectively eliminates the underlying HPV virus by activating an immune response in the patient’s body. We like to say that we’re addressing the root cause, not the symptom.
You don’t have to be embarrassed by pesky warts! Schedule your next visit with Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA today at (425) 455-0936 to learn more about Swift!
