Cryotherapy for Warts: Information & Specialists

Cryotherapy is also commonly referred to as freezing. It is a cold treatment designed to destroy unwanted tissue, such as a wart. The cold is applied to a localized area—in the case of warts, this is their surface.

Freezing destroys the affected tissue, which then generally falls off on its own. 

Cryotherapy is not only established for treating warts but also for other conditions. It has become an indispensable part of modern medicine.

Liquid nitrogen is most commonly used for cryotherapy, though liquid nitrous oxide or dry ice are sometimes used as well. The substance is often sprayed onto the affected skin area.

Alternatively, a cryoprobe can be used. This allows the nitrogen to be applied precisely where it is needed.

The major advantage of cryotherapy is that it does not cause scarring. Surgical removal would always result in scars.

However, cryotherapy can cause severe pain in many people. The cold treatment is therefore very uncomfortable.

Cold treatment is primarily used for wart removal. Almost all types of warts can be removed using cryotherapy.

However, it cannot be used on warts in sensitive areas of the body, such as the eyes or mucous membranes. If the freezing liquid nitrogen comes into contact with the wrong area, it can have serious consequences.

If you’re unsure whether you can treat your wart with cryotherapy, be sure to ask your doctor!

Other uses for cryotherapy include

• Age spots
• Pigment spots
• Scars
• Tumors and precancerous lesions

In most cases, using a cryoprobe is recommended. It allows for precise application. With a freezing spray, the risk of damaging surrounding tissue is significantly higher. Additionally, it does not produce temperatures as low as those achieved with a cryoprobe.

A cryoprobe is made of metal. It is placed on the wart and precisely releases a small amount of nitrogen. The intense cold applied to the wart causes many small ice crystals to form. These, in turn, cause the wart tissue to die off.

Most warts also fall off on their own a few days after cryotherapy.

Generally, a single freezing treatment of the wart is sufficient. However, especially when cryotherapy is performed at home, a repeat treatment may be necessary. In such cases, part of the wart often remains due to a lack of proper knowledge. Without further treatment, the wart can fully regrow.

When freezing is performed by a specialist, this is rarely the case. The doctor applies temperatures low enough to completely freeze the wart.

Nevertheless, multiple cryotherapy sessions may still be necessary. This depends particularly on the type of wart, the number of warts, and their location.

A repeat cryotherapy session should be performed if the wart is still clearly visible after two to three weeks. This is the only way to completely remove a wart through cryotherapy.

Use of a cryoprobe for wart removal © nuengneng | AdobeStock

First, the doctor will thoroughly clean the area of the body where the wart is located. During cryotherapy,

• the wart tissue and
• the viruses responsible for the outbreak

are destroyed.

The temperature used is -196 degrees Celsius. Most people feel a sharp stinging sensation during the procedure, which is generally described as tolerable.

For people who are very sensitive to pain, cryotherapy can cause severe pain and an unpleasant experience. For this reason, an anesthetic may be used in such cases. The cold treatment is then somewhat less uncomfortable.

When the wart is frozen, it turns white. This indicates that the skin cells of the wart and the viruses responsible have died.

About 20 minutes after the doctor freezes the wart, an orange-colored blister forms. Within a few days, this blister flattens, and the newly formed skin cells become visible.

In general, cryotherapy is usually safe.

However, side effects can still occur. These may include severe pain in some cases. The pain is often even more intense when performed by a doctor, as the doctor uses a lower temperature. For people who are sensitive to pain, a mild local anesthetic can help.

If you perform cryotherapy yourself, be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging. If you expose the wart to the cold for too long, the surrounding tissue may be damaged. This can lead to scarring or even nerve damage.

Self-administered cryotherapy should only be used for

• plantar warts,
• molluscum contagiosum,
• flat warts, and
• common warts

. If the wart is still present after three attempts, stop self-treatment. You should then see a doctor.

A blister will form in the area where cold therapy is applied. This allows the skin underneath to regenerate. The area may still be painful during this time. As the wart subsides, the pain will also subside after a few days.

Do not attempt to remove, pierce, or scratch the blister. Doing so would pose a high risk of infection and inflammation. Furthermore, this can interfere with skin regeneration and may lead to scarring.

This blister should also be distinguished from a possible blood blister. Blood blisters occur when blood vessels are damaged during cryotherapy of the wart. It is important to keep a close eye on this and consult a doctor if you experience severe discomfort.

Self-treatment with cryotherapy is not recommended for certain people. These include

• Pregnant women
• Women who are breastfeeding
• People with diabetes—wounds heal more slowly in these cases
• Children under four years of age
• People whose affected skin areas are already red or swollen
• People with warts in very sensitive areas, such as around the eyes

As a general rule, a doctor knows what they’re doing. They can remove the wart professionally. Self-treatment is more likely to result in side effects.

Products for at-home wart freezing are available at drugstores or pharmacies. Many people find it embarrassing to see a doctor just for a wart. It’s therefore tempting to try getting rid of the wart on your own first. 

There are a few things to keep in mind when performing cryotherapy.

First, you must be certain that the skin growth is actually a wart. If in doubt, you should see a doctor.

There are various cryotherapy products available. It’s usually best to start with an affordable option. Consulting with a pharmacist can also be very helpful.

Clean the wart immediately before cryotherapy. Simply washing it with water and drying it thoroughly is sufficient.

Also, follow the instructions on the package insert exactly.

Using a freezing spray is usually the simplest method of cryotherapy. Spray the product directly onto the wart from a distance of a few centimeters. Be careful to target only the wart. In some cases, this isn’t very easy and requires precision. It is therefore highly recommended to test the spray on a cloth first.

When using a cryoprobe, be sure to protect the surrounding skin as well.

Leave the wart alone for three weeks after application. Do not try to scrape off or remove the wart. Doing so could lead to inflammation and infection.

If swelling or redness occurs, consult a doctor.