Cryotherapy Wart Removal

What is it?

Cryotherapy (cry-o-thair-uh-p) is when warts are removed by freezing them. The freezing of the wart kills the skin cells so they cannot grow and spread. Cryotherapy is a common way of removing warts. After the skin is frozen, a blister forms in 3 to 6 hours. The blister usually flattens in 2 to 3 days. The dead skin of the blister then falls off in 2 to 4 weeks. New skin is already growing in the area within 72 hours of freezing the skin. Warts frozen on the hands and feet usually hurt more than those frozen on other body parts. Eyelids, lips, and ears may also hurt more when the skin is frozen.

Why do you need it?

You usually do not have to treat warts unless you want to. Warts can be treated with either cryotherapy or medicine. Laser surgery is also available to treat warts. If one type of care does not get rid of warts, the other may.

During Your Wart Removal:

Your wart and the skin around it will be cleaned. Your caregiver may give you numbing medicine so you will have little pain. He/she will dip cotton in a liquid chemical (kem-ih-kul). Usually, liquid nitrogen is the chemical used. The liquid will be put on your wart.

You may feel a mild sting when the chemical is applied. The area may become white. This is because the cells are dying.

Your caregiver may put a bandage over the wart. A blister will form at the site of your wart. Do not touch the blister.

You will be told how to care for your wart at home. You may need more than 1 treatment if the wart does not go away.

Your treatment will take about 15 to 20 minutes.