Cryotherapy (Liquid Nitrogen)
Best suited for: viral warts
Cryotherapy is a procedure for super-freezing tissue in order to destroy abnormal or diseased tissues, like warts, skin tags, moles, etc. using a very cold substance like liquid nitrogen.
During the procedure, a local anesthesia cream is applied to numb the area being treated. Then the doctor applies the liquid nitrogen to the wart using a probe or a cotton swab. Liquid nitrogen can also be sprayed directly on the wart. After that the destroyed tissue is removed. Some warts may require multiple treatments every 7-10 days.
This procedure is most commonly used for the following kinds of warts:
- Verruca Vulgaris
- Mosaic Wart
- Periungal wart
- Plantar Wart
- Genital Wart
The procedure is painful but is managed by the use of local anesthetic. It is usually a very quick procedure and takes less than a minute to perform. After the procedure, the area is dressed with a sterile bandage and the doctor will advice you of post-operative care including limiting movement of the treated area, avoiding swimming, gym, and rigorous physical activity.
After the treatment, you will notice a scab in the treated area. The scabs after the treatment should be allowed to fall off on their own in order to reduce the chances of scarring. A light pink or brown scar may remain after the scab falls, which will gradually disappear on its own. Depending on the treatment area, you may need to rest for up to a week (eg. in case of sites like the feet). Otherwise, there is little downtime, and besides caring for the treated area, you can return to your daily activities.
