Warts sometimes arise and disappear on their own, but there are occasionally some warts that may persevere for months or even years. Leaving a wart unremoved may also cause the wart to spread to other parts of the body. Thankfully, there are ways to remove these pesky blemishes in a safe and effective way through a process called cryotherapy.

What is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is one of the most common ways to remove warts, thanks to its ease of use and the low risk of scarring, especially on those with fair or light skin. This procedure also reduces the chance of the warts spreading throughout your body. The entire process takes only a few minutes in our office to get rid of warts for good.

When you visit our office for cryotherapy, also called cryosurgery, your nurse practitioner will take a controlled amount of liquid nitrogen on a cotton swab or spray and apply it to the wart and some of the surrounding skin. The whole process feels much like a very cold ice cube grazing your skin for a moment. Some instances of cryotherapy for warts will involve the nurse practitioner shaving off a tiny layer of the skin before applying the liquid nitrogen, or the use of a local anesthetic to numb any pain associated with the freezing temperatures.

Many patients experience numbness in the affected area, often followed by a bit of pain and redness. Ultimately, a small blister will form in the affected area that will turn into a scab with time. This scab will naturally fall off about a week later, and should not be picked prior to that for the best results.

Is Cryotherapy for Warts Right for You?

Cryotherapy is a common and effective practice for wart removal, thanks to its short recovery time and minimal amounts of scarring after the procedure. When you visit our offices to discuss your particular case, we will go over your options so you can be sure you have a full understanding of the process and procedure beforehand.

You may be a good candidate for cryotherapy if you are:

• Suffering from a wart that has not gone away on its own for months or even years
• Unsatisfied with the results of over-the-counter treatments such as salicylic acid
• Someone with a moderate to high tolerance for pain, as children and the elderly can sometimes have a difficult time with the pain associated with cryotherapy
• Experiencing a wart on the face, as cryotherapy causes less scarring than other wart removal methods
• Dealing with a wart on a hairless or nearly hairless part of the body, as cryosurgery can cause you to permanently lose hair in the affected area

For more information about cryotherapy for warts and to determine if this common, effective procedure is right for you, give us a call at 804-223-3608 or schedule an appointment with our expert team today.