Microwave verruca therapy is the very latest way to treat verrucae – and it can now be easily accessed by people living in Telford, Shropshire.

The ground-breaking treatment has been developed in the UK by Swift, and has been proved to be one of the most effective ways to treat stubborn verrucae. What particularly sets microwave verruca therapy apart from other treatments is that it is quick, clean, and does not need the application of any acids, bandages, or pain killing anaesthetics.

AJB Footcare Podiatrist Andrew Booth

AJB Footcare is one of the first foot care specialists in the UK to offer the new treatment. Our clinic in Market Drayton, Shropshire, is currently the nearest Swift microwave verruca treatment centre to Telford.

AJB Footcare Podiatrist Andrew Booth says: “Microwave therapy is an impressive and exciting new generation treatment for verrucae, which we’re very pleased to be able to offer it to our patients throughout the Midlands and North West of England.

“Here at AJB Footcare, we have a strong track record of investing in the latest technology to bring advances in footcare therapy to our patients, which is why we’re now offering Swift microwave verruca therapy. I am pleased to say, we’re already getting excellent results.”

Verrucae are created by a virus. Most people have a strong, natural immune response to the virus, which prevents it from growing. However, for some people, this immune response can be weaker. This makes them more susceptible to the virus, which means they are more likely to develop verrucae.

Swift microwave verruca therapy is understood to work by helping to sensitise your body’s natural immune response to the verruca virus.

Precision delivery

Swift verruca therapy delivers highly-focussed microwave energy through a small probe held by podiatrist. This is held over the verruca. There are no needles. The skin is not broken. The energy is delivered precisely to a depth of no more than 5mm. The surrounding skin tissue is not affected.

Effective on feet and hands

Microwave verruca treatment can be used to treat verrucae on hands, as well as feet. It is highly effective in both cases. Also, the therapy can be used to treat clusters of verrucae, just as easily as single ones. Also, the treatment can be applied to more than one part of the body during the same treatment session, speeding up the process of getting rid of all verrucae.

Swift microwave verruca treatment does not have the disadvantages linked to conventional verruca treatment. For example, with this new treatment, there is:

• No need for the application of acid-based products
• No need to freeze the verruca
• No need to apply anaesthetics
• There is also no need to apply dressings after each treatment session.

Conventional verruca treatments, such as acid treatment and freezing, can be quite painful during and after treatment. This is not the case with Swift microwave verruca therapy.

The treatment can sometimes cause a sharp scratch-like pain during the application process. This only lasts the two seconds it takes to apply the microwaves to the affected area of skin. Any such pain, if felt, does not continue once the microwave applicator is removed from the surface of the verruca.

Verruca infection is a persistent problem. Many treatments have come and gone over the years. However, we believe this new treatment represents a real breakthrough.In our judgement as footcare specialists, with many years of experience, Swift microwave therapy is the most effective verruca treatment available in the UK at the present time.

Independent clinical trials conducted by Dr Ivan Bristow, of the University of Southampton, has demonstrated success rates of 76%, which is impressive. Further research by the University of Southampton has shown how microwaves appear to trigger an immune response to verrucae, helping the body’s natural defences to attack the virus, and remove it from the skin.

Most patients attend our clinic, on average, two or three times for microwave verruca treatment to be completed. However, a verruca that has been present for a long time, or is particularly large, may need more treatments. We can advise you of this when we have examined the verruca or verrucae when you attend our clinic for your first appointment.

How microwave therapy is applied

The treatment for each verruca involves five separate applications of microwave therapy. Each application lasts two seconds. There is no need to apply dressings after each application. Unlike other treatment, microwaves do not break or disrupt skin tissue. Further microwave therapy sessions, as agreed in each patient’s individual treatment plan, are scheduled to take place every two to three weeks.

No disruption to everyday activities

Microwave verruca therapy is effective, gentle, and very convenient for our patients. You can immediately return to normal daily activity. This can include taking part in a full range of sports – or, as the therapy starts to work – to resume activity that was previously not possible. This is something that our patients particularly like about microwave verruca therapy.

How quickly does the verruca go?

After the first microwave therapy session, it can take several days for you to notice a change. The verruca may become discoloured, though this should cause no pain. Over the next few weeks, its size should gradually reduce, as the body’s immune response strengthens, and takes effect. Healthy skin grows into the previously-infected area. Two months after your last treatment, we carry out a formal review to assess progress made.

A 73-year-old man who suffered with a verruca and warts on his hand for at least 11 years has had his life transformed by Swift microwave therapy delivered by AJB Footcare.

In 2015, we treated his verruca with four courses of cryotherapy, with no discernible improvement. The verruca grew further during 2016, during which time the patient received routine treatment to reduce the pain he was suffering.

In July 2017, the patient had his first Swift microwave verruca treatment on the verruca and the warts, followed by two further treatments over eight weeks. Since then, it has taken just over four months to move from picture 1 to the progress in picture 2, see right, for both the verruca and the warts on the patient’s finger.

For the first time in many years, the patient does not feel pain. He is no longer ashamed to show his feet, and his relatives are no longer worried about the impact of the verruca on his wellbeing.

AJB Footware Podiatrist Andrew Booth said: “These are fantastic results. They demonstrate perfectly the potential positive benefits of microwave verruca therapy compared with conventional treatments.”

Swift microwave verruca therapy has been proven to be safe and effective by extensive clinical trials. The treatment has been approved for use under the Medical Devices Directive (MDD). Microwaves have been used for clinical treatments of various kinds for many years with no adverse effects on patients.

Evidence clearly indicates there is less risk of healthy tissue being damaged by this new treatment than by other, more invasive verruca therapies. These include laser treatment, salicylic acid, and cryotherapy. At AJB Footcare, the treatment is carried out by qualified footcare specialists, who are trained to use the Swift equipment, and advise patients about their treatment plan.

AJB Footcare is a long-established and well-respected foot health service in Market Drayton, Shropshire. It is owned and managed by a husband and wife team, Andrew and Jill Booth. We are leaders in podiatry innovation, which is why we were keen to be among the first in the UK to offer treatments like Swift verruca therapy. We are well-placed to deliver microwave verruca treatment to people across Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Shropshire.

We already attract patients from across these three counties, many of them referred by GP practices and care homes, who trust the treatment they provide. Our reputation for therapeutic excellence and patient care within the clinical community is second to none.

For two treatments at our clinic, the cost is £250. If additional treatments are needed, they will be charged at £75 per treatment. If you want to know more about microwave verruca therapy for patients in Telford, contact the team at AJB Footcare. We would be happy to answer any further questions you may have.

To discuss your treatment needs, or to book an appointment, call us on 01630 656792.