WHAT IS SWIFT® AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Swift is a new technology, developed in the UK in 2016. Swift uses microwave energy through a special probe applied to the skin to treat your verruca. The microwave energy is delivered directly to the verruca at a predetermined depth. This means that, unlike other treatments, there is no damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. It heats the skin by around 4 degrees, targeting the water molecules and destroying the infected viral cells.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?

Verruca resolution is not a quick process, not if you want the right treatment. The truth is that 3 out of 4 patients require at least 3 swift treatments at 4-week intervals. In some cases, less treatment sessions are required.
Each case is different, and that’s why we always tailor our services according to your needs. Also don’t expect to see immediate results. Most verruci clear at least 3-4 months after the last swift application. Some podiatrists experienced cases which had taken a year after the final swift treatment.

IS IT WORTH IT?

In my opinion, YES!
The main benefit is that there is no need for any anaesthetic or dressings or keeping your foot dry, and you can continue to your normal activities straight away. It is safe and fast. It has a high success rate in comparison to other treatments.

DOES SWIFT® IT HURT?

I’ll be honest, I’ve undergone this treatment myself and it does sting intensely for a short burst of up to 2 seconds. It is not for the feint hearted. It is like the feeling of a hot needle against your skin for up to 2 seconds. But it only lasts for up to 2 seconds!

WHO CAN USE SWIFT?

Because of the intense bursts of pain, I don’t tend to recommend this treatment on children, especially on anyone under the age of 12, although some kids are braver than adults! Your Podiatrist will carry out an assessment prior to treatment and be able to advise if you are eligible.

HOW MUCH DOES SWIFT® COST?

Swift Treatment costs are £145 per session or £410 for a package of 3 treatments (includes up to 2 follow up reviews) or £750 for a package of 6 treatments (includes up to 2 follow up reviews).

At Medipod Clinics we are very experienced when it comes to managing verrucas. As well as keeping up to date with the latest research and new treatments, we always try to give you the information and tools you need to keep your feet healthy.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We also offer treatments for nails, hard skin, ingrown toenails, and advice for people with Diabetes. With our expertise and experience, you will have full peace of mind when it comes to your foot health.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

Thank you for reading,

Faye Vogiatzoglou
http://medipodclinics.com/

The post What is SWIFT® and how does it work? appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Children can get many of the same foot problems as adults. But some conditions may take on different characteristics, and some may occur more frequently in children due to their active lifestyles. Or sensitive skin, and developing bodies. The most common foot and ankle issues seen in children and teens include:

Heel Pain (Sever’s disease)

Heel pain in children is often caused by repetitive stress on the growth plate in the heel bone.

Running, jumping, and pounding on hard surfaces can irritate the heel’s growth plate. Causing muscle strain and inflamed tissue. It is very common in active children from 8 to 14 years of age. The new bone is still forming at the growth plate and doesn’t fully develop until at least age 14.

Treatment for heel pain typically includes taking a break from activities that put stress on the heel bone. Using orthotics to support the heel, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to ease pain symptoms. Or having supportive and correctly fitted footwear, and stretching the Achilles tendon and calf muscles. Immobilizing the foot and ankle may be necessary for severe cases of paediatric heel pain. If the heel pain persists or reoccurs, other treatments may be explored.

Flexible Flatfoot – Common Foot Problems in Children

Flexible flatfoot is most common in young children. It is characterized by an arch that disappears when the child stands up (so the feet appear flat) but reappears when sitting.

The condition usually occurs in both feet. Most children do not experience any symptoms from the condition, but those who do may feel pain or cramping in the feet or legs while walking. In most cases, children outgrow the disorder without treatment by the age of 7.

If your child does experience symptoms, they can usually be alleviated by wearing supportive shoes and custom-made shoe orthotics for arch support. Seek advice from an experienced podiatrist if your child stops playing sports or withdraws from other physical activities or is in pain as a result of flatfoot symptoms.

Ingrown Toenails

An ingrowing toenail is a toenail that grows into the skin surrounding the toenail. It usually occurs on the big toe and causes tenderness, redness, and swelling around the corners of the toenail. Ingrown toenails are often caused by tight shoes and improper cutting of toenails.

Treatment typically involves soaking the affected foot in warm water and using an antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection. If the problem persists, your podiatrist may cut or lift the corner of the nail to allow the toe to heal more easily. A minor surgical procedure may also be considered in some cases.

Plantar Warts – Common Foot Problems in Children

Plantar warts usually develop on weight-bearing areas of the foot, such as the heel or ball of the foot. They are non-cancerous skin growths caused by a viral infection – human papillomavirus (HPV) – in the top layers of the skin. Warts are transmitted easily through person to person contact as well as indirectly, such as from floors in communal areas (locker rooms and public showers). They are highly contagious.

Plantar warts may eventually go away on their own without treatment, but if they are painful, your podiatrist can remove a plantar wart easily and more effectively than an over-the-counter remedy.

Athletes Foot

Athlete’s foot or tinea pedis is a common and contagious fungal infection. It can cause a scaly rash that can burn, sting, and itch and may lead to blisters or dry, cracked skin on your feet.

Athletes foot usually appears between the toes and on the soles of the feet and can spread to the toenails and cause fungal nail infections. It occurs after direct exposure to fungi (including yeast), typically in a moist environment like a locker room, public shower, or swimming pool or from the skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

Treatment involves over-the-counter antifungal creams and sprays. You should also make sure that you dry your feet well, especially in between the toes and change socks daily.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you or your child may have.

Thank you for reading,
Faye Vogiatzoglou

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Common Foot Problems in Children appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

There are many treatments for verrucas such as over the counter medicaments, freezing treatments, application of acids and surgical options. We will discuss how all of these relate to you and your feet.

Verrucas are viral infections of the skin and can be very persistent to treatment.  That is because they can hide very successfully from your immune system.

Verruca treatments vary according to age of the patient, their medical history and the history of the verruca. What works for your 5-year old daughter will not always work for your 40-year old sister. We suggest discussing your case with a podiatrist, who will be able to advise you on this.

We have pulled together our top 5 tips about verruca treatments below:

Medipod Clinics: Verruca management

1. Over the counter treatments tend to be suitable for young children. They are safe to use and is unlikely that will cause discomfort to your child. Teenagers and adults may not respond at all to any of the over the counter options.
2. Although there is no evidence linking your immune system to verrucas, my personal recommendation is to boost your immunity with specific diet supplements. From my experience, I found that a multivitamin is just not good enough as it gives you a little bit of everything, rather than the desired levels of specific vitamins that your body needs. I often recommend that you get some probiotics tablets from a health shop with a high content of cultures. A sugary, small bottle of yogurt from the supermarket is not sufficient.  If your gut is more balanced, then, your immune system is stronger to fight off any viral infections present.
3. Freezing treatments may not work if there is hard skin over the verruca or if the freezing agent is not cold enough. Over the counter freezing sprays are at a temperature of -50 degrees Celsius, whereas freezing treatments in a clinical setting are around -169 degrees Celsius! Podiatrists are trained to use liquid nitrogen at this temperature to treat your verruca. Your verruca will blister (or form a scab) and you will need to return to the clinic for reviews. You will most likely need a course or freezing treatments to clear your verrucas.
4. Stress plays a major role on the success of your treatment. Reducing your stress levels will improve the success of your treatment.
5. Surgical options such as electrosurgery and needling may work better than freezing methods or acids. Latest research suggests that needling verrucas under local anaesthetic, can lead to complete resolution of your verruca faster than applying an acid over a period of a few weeks.

At Medipod Clinics we are very experienced when it comes to managing verrucas. As well as keeping up to date with the latest research and new treatments, we always try to give you the information and tools you need to keep your feet healthy.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We also offer treatments for nails, hard skin and advice for people with Diabetes. With our expertise and experience, you will have full peace of mind when it comes to your foot health.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

Thank you for reading,

Faye Vogiatzoglou
medipodclinics.com

The post Top 5 Tips about Verruca Management appeared first on Medipod Clinics.