Verrucas and your immune system: how Swift Pro fits into treatment

A verruca that keeps returning can be frustrating, particularly when it makes walking, exercise or simply wearing your usual shoes uncomfortable. Understanding the role of your immune system helps explain why treatment can take time—and why the approach is about more than removing hard skin.

At Steps Podiatry & Gait in Inverness, we now offer Swift Pro microwave therapy as part of our verruca treatment service.

Why do verrucas sometimes stay for so long?

Verrucas are warts on the sole of the foot caused by human papillomavirus, or HPV. The infection affects the outer skin and can produce a thickened, sometimes painful area. Your immune response plays an important part in clearing the infection. Some verrucas disappear naturally, while others persist for months or years. [1]

Having a persistent verruca does not automatically mean your whole immune system is weak. The interaction between the virus and the local skin response matters. HPV can interfere with the signals that help immune cells recognise infected tissue. [2]

Working with the immune response

Removing the surface build-up may improve comfort, but the visible hard skin is only part of the problem. Treatment can also aim to encourage a response to the virus within the affected skin.

Research into microwave therapy has demonstrated effects on communication between skin cells and immune cells, including processes that help present viral material to the immune system. This provides a biological basis for using controlled local heating to encourage an anti-HPV response. [2]

In everyday language, the aim is to help the body respond to the infected tissue. It is a targeted treatment at the verruca, rather than a treatment to boost immunity throughout the body.

Where Swift Pro fits

Swift Pro delivers controlled microwave energy through a small applicator placed against the verruca. The energy produces local heating in the tissue, with the aim of encouraging the response involved in clearing the lesion. Applications are brief and are delivered during a clinic appointment. [5]

Published studies of Swift microwave therapy have reported clearance of persistent verrucas. A small placebo-controlled trial published in 2025 also found more complete clearance with microwave treatment than with sham treatment. Results vary between patients and studies, so we assess progress individually. These studies concern Swift microwave therapy; they do not establish a separate success rate for the newer Swift Pro device. [3,4]

What does treatment involve at Steps?

• Confirm the diagnosis. We examine the area to establish whether it is a verruca and discuss how it is affecting you.
• Check suitability. We review previous treatment, relevant medical conditions and medication before recommending an approach.
• Explain the treatment. Microwave applications can cause a brief, sharp heat or painful sensation. We discuss this beforehand and monitor your tolerance.
• Plan treatment and review. A course of appointments is commonly needed, often spaced around four weeks apart. We explain the proposed schedule and review the response over time. [4,5]

Swift generally does not require a dressing after treatment. Your clinician will give advice appropriate to your skin and comfort, including any adjustments to activity. [5]

Why the review matters

The treatment application is short, but changes in the verruca develop over time. Follow-up allows us to assess its appearance, extent and symptoms and decide whether further treatment is appropriate.

Not every verruca needs active treatment. If it is comfortable and causing no difficulties, monitoring may be reasonable. If it is painful, persistent or affecting the activities you enjoy, an assessment can help you understand your options. [1]

Swift Pro verruca treatment in Inverness

Our approach at Steps is to explain the problem, recommend treatment suited to you and review progress. If you have been struggling with a verruca, bring details of anything you have already tried.

Explore verruca treatment at Steps and book an assessment, or contact the team about Swift Pro.

Further reading

1. British Association of Dermatologists. Plantar warts.
2. Bristow I et al. Microwave therapy for cutaneous human papilloma virus infection. European Journal of Dermatology, 2017.
3. Microwave therapy for the treatment of plantar warts. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 2023.
4. Haase O et al. Microwave therapy for the treatment of resistant plantar warts: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Archives of Dermatological Research, 2025.
5. Emblation. Swift patient information and how the technology works (manufacturer information).

Evidence checked September 2026.