K-Laser Therapy – Treating Warts with Laser Therapy
At Hurst Podiatry, we offer a treatment for various foot and lower limb conditions called K Laser treatment.
One of the common foot conditions a K laser can be used to treat is warts.
In this piece, we’re going to focus on laser therapy as a treatment for warts. Warts are a common condition that present on feet and toes, and they can be unsightly, contagious and in some cases painful. You can learn even more about warts and various other treatment options here.
They can be a stubborn condition that doesn’t always respond well to treatment so for this reason we have added the K-Laser to our clinical options
How does K laser treat warts?
The K Laser is a very effective tool in the treatment of warts or verrucae on the feet.
We use the high-power pulse setting to burn away the wart tissue. This has proved to be highly effective and is much more successful than many other chemist and alternative wart treatment options.
The treatment is performed by first applying black ink to the site of the wound. The ink helps the laser to create a more efficient burn. This is because the black region will heat up more rapidly than skin that isn’t blackened. It’s similar to the way that a black t-shirt will feel hotter to wear on a warm sunny day than a white t-shirt.
Once the ink is applied, treatment occurs and takes a few minutes. The amount of time it takes will be somewhat dependent on the size of the wart that is being treated.
When we finish the laser treatment, we treat the area like a minor wound and use topical antiseptics and dressings to promote healing. A bandaid is usually fine to use.
Is laser treatment for warts painful?
As the treatment involves burning it can be painful.
Prior to the K-Laser treatment we usually recommend using an anesthetic. This can be a single quick needle delivered to the ankle to make the sole of the foot go number.
This then allows the whole procedure to be carried out painlessly – even if you’re treating multiple warts.
How many sessions will I need to treat warts?
The number of treatments you need will depend on the size of the wart. Larger lesions can take a few sessions but in most cases warts can be resolved entirely with K-Laser after 1-2 sessions.
How much will K Laser treatment cost?
For all K-Laser therapy we just charge a $39 fee on top of our normal consult fees.
In the case of wart therapy if an anesthetic is required, we charge an additional $20 to administer this
Will I have any ongoing issues after treatment?
The site of treatment will be sore for several days after and we suggest relative rest after treatment, but it is unusual to experience significant levels of pain following treatment.
Will the warts come back again?
The wart treated is very unlikely to come back again if the treatment is successful.
The HPV virus that causes warts can remain in your system for several years and result in new lesions.
These can be easily treated as they arise though also.
Are there options outside of K-Laser?
Lots! Our article on warts walks you through lot of other options for wart therapy but these can include:
- Cryotherapy
- Laser therapy
- Salicylic acid treatment
- Injection therapy
- Chemist bought treatments
- DCP therapy
- No treatment at all
Where can I get k laser
K lasers are a high-end piece of medical equipment and are only available in a handful of podiatry clinics in Melbourne. We’re lucky enough to have two of these units in our clinics. The K laser is at our Mooroolbark and Healesville head office sites. However, if you’re unable to make it to those locations and K-Laser treatment is the best treatment option for your condition, we can work with you to make the unit available at our Croydon and Kilsyth locations too.
Want to know more?
Over the next few weeks, we have several articles coming that outline how the laser works on specific conditions. So, keep your eyes out for that, and if you have any questions or would like to book an appointment please contact us on 03 5901 2216 or book online here.
