New option in wart therapy / Neue Option in der Warzentherapie

“The use of microwaves in the treatment of long-standing and particularly stubborn warts represents a valuable addition to the therapeutic toolkit. The good response rates not only create satisfied patients, but also become a positive experience for the therapist.”

Since the beginning of this year, we have also been able to treat warts using microwaves. We are happy to be able to offer our patients who do not respond adequately to conventional therapy another treatment option.

Keypoints
  • Immunomodulatory hyperthermia procedure, which is particularly recommended for therapy-resistant warts.
  • Particularly suitable for children, active adults and patients with limited mobility as it is less complex to use and no soaking or scraping is required.
  • Although it can be combined with other treatments, treatment on softened calluses is more painful and is not recommended. After treatment, walking without pain is often possible quickly.
  • The short duration of a session makes it easier to integrate into everyday practice without additional equipment and can be delegated.

—————————————-

“Die Anwendung der Mikrowelle in der Behandlung von langbestehenden und besonders hartnäckigen Warzen stellt eine wertvolle Erweiterung des therapeutischen Instrumentariums dar. Die guten Ansprechraten schaffen nicht nur zufriedene Patienten, sondern werden auch zu einer positiven Erfahrung für den Therapeuten.”

Seit Anfang dieses Jahres besteht auch bei uns die Möglichkeit, die Warzen mittels Mikrowelle behandeln zu lassen. Wir sind froh, unseren Patienten, welche auf die konventionelle Therapie nur unzureichend ansprechen,eine weitere Therapiemöglichkeit anbieten zu können.

Keypoints
  • Immunmodulatorisches Hyperthermie-Verfahren, das besonders bei therapieresistenten Verrucae empfohlen wird.
  • Besonders geeignet für Kinder, aktive Erwachsene und bewegungseingeschränkte Patienten, da weniger aufwendig in der Anwendung und kein Einweichen oder Abschaben erforderlich.
  • Obwohl grundsätzlich mit anderen Mitteln kombinierbar, ist die Behandlung auf aufgeweichter Hornhaut schmerzhafter und nicht empfohlen. Nach der Behandlung ist ein schmerzfreies Gehen oft schnell möglich.
  • Die kurze Dauer einer Sitzung erleichtert die Integration in den Praxisalltag ohne zusätzliches Equipment und kann delegiert werden.

Read the full article [German]
Helena Odermatt, Bettina Rümmelein

Utility of devices for onychomycosis: a review

Onychomycosis is a hard-to-treat fungal infection of the nail unit; high complete cure and mycological cure rates remain elusive.

Many oral and topical antifungal agents are approved by regulatory bodies around the world for the treatment of onychomycosis including terbinafine, itraconazole, 10% efinaconazole, 5% tavaborole, and 8% ciclopirox. These agents have varying rates of success in clinical studies, with limitations such as long treatment durations, drug interactions, low patient compliance, and high relapse rates.

Device-based treatments are targeted to specific regions of the nail, have favorable safely profiles, and do not interfere with systemic agents. They may be an effective alternative therapy for onychomycosis especially with increasing reports of squalene epoxidase gene mutations and potential resistance to terbinafine therapy.

This review discusses four devices used as antifungal treatments and three devices used as penetration enhancers for topical agents. Lasers, photodynamic therapy, microwaves, and non-thermal plasma have the capacity to inactivate fungal pathogens demonstrated through in vivo studies.

Read the full article

Aditya K. Gupta, Shruthi Polla Ravi, Sandor Haas-Neill, Tong Wang & Elizabeth A. Cooper

Microwave Energy as a Treatment for Onychomycosis

Background

• Onychomycosis, commonly known as fungal nail, affects up to 50% of older individuals.
• Onychomycosis is challenging to treat for several reasons:
– Dermatophytes are embedded in and/or under the nail plate.
– Many treatment approaches are used, but all, including oral medications, have widely varying clearance rates.
– Resistance to oral medications is growing globally.
– Nail regrowth is slow and requires on-going management of both infection and lifestyle.
• Growing anti-fungal drug resistance highlights the need for novel treatments with unique mechanisms of action.
• Heat and microwaves can kill T. rubrum, the most prevalent dermatophyte, in clothing and footwear.

Summary

• All cases showed visual improvement.
• Treatment with the microwave device was relatively easy and offers several benefits.

View poster here

Robert Conenello, Presented at the TPMA Annual Scientific Conference 2023