Warts are unnatural growths on the skin caused by low-risk Human Papillomavirus.
These skin lesions can be of different shape and sizes, ranging from tiny filiform warts on neck to huge verrucas on feet that can make people worry.
While Cryotherapy wart removal with freezing liquid nitrogen is one of the most popular treatment option — does it really work?
Just read on, or click on below to go straight to the section.
1. How does Liquid Nitrogen Wart Removal Work?
2. Cryotherapy Wart Removal by Doctors – Demo Videos
- Cryotherapy wart removal Cost
- Liquid nitrogen wart removal Side Effects
- Does Cryotherapy work: What do Patients Say?
- Cryotherapy liquid nitrogen wart removal Aftercare
3. Over The Counter Liquid Nitrogen Wart Removal Kit
- Freezing wart at Home – Demo Videos
- Can Dr Scholl’s Freeze Away Wart Remover Used On Genital Warts?
4. Freezing A Wart Stages: Liquid Nitrogen Removal Timeline
How Does Liquid Nitrogen Wart Removal Work?
Liquid nitrogen is a low-temperature liquid. To give you a thought of exactly how cold this liquid is, it has a boiling point of -321°F (-196°C), while water boils at +212°F (+100°C).
When the cold liquid nitrogen is splashed onto the wart, it freezes the tissue dead.
After the encompassing tissue defrosts, the injury will in the long run scab over and mend, yet that annoying wart will be no more.
There are mainly 2 ways that a wart patient can use liquid nitrogen to freeze off a wart:
Option #1: Cryotherapy Wart Removal by Doctors
Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is what dermatologists use most often to cure warts, says the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD).
This treatment destroys a wart by freezing it with liquid nitrogen, causes a blister to be formed. When the blister peels off, all or part of the verruca peels off as well.
While local anesthesia is usually not required, the doctor may apply anesthetic numbing cream before freezing wart off, in order to reduce the pain level during the treatment process.
You may expect a few visits to your health care provider while being treated with liquid nitrogen to get rid of a wart. This is because the liquid nitrogen might have to be applied more than a single time before the wart is totally removed.
According to the reputable Patient.info UK:
Sometimes thicker warts or verrucas need two or more sessions of liquid nitrogen treatment over a period of a few weeks to get to the root. It may work but is no more effective than over-the-counter treatment with salicylic acid.
Related read: Best Salicylic Acid and OTC Wart Removers Review
Watch this excellent video, in which Dr Paul Thomas MD demonstrated and explained the Cryotherapy wart treatment step-by-step from start to finish, using liquid nitrogen to freeze off plantar wart on a young girl’s toe.
In video below, Jacob Levitt MD demonstrated freezing a common wart on finger with liquid nitrogen, by using a probe.
Cryotherapy Wart Removal Cost by Medical Professionals
Number of warts to be removed, alongside cost of living of the country and city where the Cryotherapy is taken, are among the factors that influence the cost.
While you should check with your local medical institute to determine the exact wart surgery cost, refer below table for your quick reference to get a feel of the consultation fee and freezing wart removal cost range.
USA * | New York * | UK * | London * | |
Consultation | – | USD $350 – $450 | £50 | £179 |
Follow Up | – | – | £80 (3-4 sessions may be required) | £119 |
Cryotherapy | USD $610 (include 3~4 follow up) | – | £160 (1-3 warts), £250 (4-6 warts) | – |
Wart Removal | – | USD $450 (1-5 warts), USD $550 (5-10 warts) | – | From £299 |
Additional Wart Removal | – | – | – | From £199 |
* Sources of above cost reference table:
Cryotherapy Liquid Nitrogen Wart Removal Side Effects
WebMD found that the number and severity of side effects depend on the number of freezing cycles used during cryotherapy and how large an area was treated.
One drawback of Cryotherapy is that it can be a uncomfortable and painful process. As different individuals may have different pain tolerance levels, Cryotherapy for wart removal may not be appropriate for young children and some individuals.
According to study published by U.S. National Library of Medicine, the side effects of liquid nitrogen wart removal may include:
- pain
- blistering
- scarring
- skin irritation
- skin pigmentation
- crust
In the event that a wart is thick and requires broad or rehashed freezing, nerves around the wart can be harmed, scarring may happen, and the skin may set aside a long opportunity to recuperate.
Cryotherapy Wart Removal Reviews: What Do Patients Say?
* I have had warts frozen off and so has my daughter. It is really easy and it didn’t hurt at all. / jcjwillis @ HealthBoards
* I had several on my foot years ago that I had had for many years. It took quite a few visits to the doctor’s office to get them frozen every week or two. It was quite painful for a day or two after the treatment. Did get rid of them, finally. / NLBWell @ Tennis Warehouse
* My son had a massive verruca. We’d go to the dr’s every month to freeze it off, didn’t work after 12 months the dr said leave it when the body realises its there it will get rid of it. sure enough he got up 1 morning and it was gone. / Caroline Duncan @ Salon Geek
* I have a 9 year old son who had 3 warts on his left hand (two on his ring finger and one on his palm). He had them for about 2 years and we tried freezing them off as well as treating them with “beetle juice” from the pediatricians office. He said “Mom let’s just cut my finger off” (rather than do the freezing again). / Anonymous @ Gordon’s Notes
Cryotherapy Liquid Nitrogen Wart Removal Aftercare
Most patients will fully recover in a few weeks after freezing the wart blister off, though there are also cases that take longer period to recover. The doctor and healthcare practitioner will advise aftercare to be taken to ensure proper healing.
Things to take note may include:
- Take doctor prescribed painkillers to make you more comfortable if the wound remains painful after Cryotherapy treatment.
- Do not scratch or touch the wound area.
- Avoid strenuous exercise for a few days, such as avoid playing sport or jogging.
- If liquid nitrogen is used to remove your plantar wart on the sole of the feet, you will have to put less weight on your foot to minimize soreness later.
- Follow up visits to doctor may be necessary. Contact your doctor if your wound encounter severe pain, bad-smelling or yellowish discharge which may mean an infection.
Option #2: OTC Liquid Nitrogen Wart Removal Kit
The utilization of liquid nitrogen as a technique for wart removal began in the medical field and was performed by medicinal experts.
Over the counter liquid nitrogen wart removal kit and products are then developed by manufacturers that allow freezing wart at home.
These OTC liquid nitrogen tools have made the home treatment process simple, easy and affordable to remove warts without having to carry out any expensive surgery or take any harmful medicines — in which the OTC kits are ergonomically designed to shield users from exposure to the freezing chemicals.
The cost of OTC freeze off wart remover is much less expensive than a visit to the medicinal center. Currently the most popular liquid nitrogen wart removal kits on the market are Dr Scholl’s Freeze Away Wart Remover and Compound W Freeze Off Wart Remover that can easily be purchased over the counter and provide an accessible method to remove warts at home.
Related read: Can Dr Scholl’s Freeze Away Wart Remover Used On Genital Warts?
Here is a video on how to use Dr. Scholl’s Dual Action Freeze Away Wart remover to get rid of verrucas on foot.
While below is another video on using Compound W Freeze Off Wart Remover to treat common wart on finger.
>> Check out more home wart freeze off experience sharing by actual users at Amazon.com
Freezing A Wart Stages: Liquid Nitrogen Removal Timeline
In spite of the fact that warts mainly occur in children and young adults, warts can occur in individuals of any age. Since warts are an aftereffect of a virus, they are spread by direct contact such are only touching a wart.
Warts regularly will vanish after some time, however there is no particular timetable for this. Most warts will vanish from the skin inside weeks or months; be that as it may, a few warts may take years to die down. The insusceptible framework assumes an expansive part in one’s helplessness to warts.
After going through cryotherapy wart treatment or OTC liquid nitrogen freezing kit at home, the location and type of the wart will determine how long it takes to fall off till it is completely dead. The frozen wart may go through several stages like turning black or dark, dying, until it is healed and gone – which can take 3 to 7 days. For stubborn and thicker wart, liquid nitrogen might have to be applied more than a single time before the wart is totally removed.
Related read: How Do You Know When a Wart or Verruca is Dying or Completely Gone?
FAQs
How long does it hurt after liquid nitrogen? ›
Immediately after the area is frozen, expect a stinging or burning sensation to last for 10 to 15 minutes. A change in sensation (such as numbness) may be experienced and is usually temporary. Taking Tylenol may relieve any residual pain you may have.
What should my wart look like after freezing? ›In most cases a blister will form where liquid nitrogen is applied. The location of the wart and the thickness of the skin around the wart will determine how long it takes for the blister to form. The blister may be either clear or filled with blood. Sometimes a crust or scab may form instead.
What happens to skin after liquid nitrogen treatment? ›Some hours after liquid nitrogen treatment your skin may become slightly swollen and red; later on it may form a crust, scab, or blister. The scab will fall off by itself in one to two weeks but will heal quicker if you follow the instructions below.
Are there side effects to liquid nitrogen? ›Extreme Cold
The vapor of liquid nitrogen can rapidly freeze skin tissue and eye fluid, resulting in cold burns, frostbite, and permanent eye damage even by brief exposure.
As mentioned, it is common to experience irritation and soreness after a wart removal procedure. However, you should avoid touching and scratching the wounds. When you scratch the affected areas, you might cause the wounds to bleed, thus contaminating your hands.
Can I shower after liquid nitrogen? ›It is ok to bathe normally after your treatment. Gently clean the area in the shower or bath with warm water and mild soap, then pat dry. Apply Vaseline or Aquaphor to the area 1-2x daily. You do not have to keep the area covered with a Band-Aid, but certainly can if you prefer.
How long does skin take to heal after liquid nitrogen? ›❖ Healing takes 1-3 weeks, after which the skin may look perfectly normal or slightly lighter in color. oozing from the site, or if the site becomes thickened or raised, contact our office immediately.
Is it normal for a wart to hurt after freezing? ›You may have some pain for up to three days following the procedure. You should be fully recovered within two weeks. There's a chance for minimal scarring. You may also develop a blister over the site of the wart.
Why does my wart look black after freezing? ›► Within minutes after freezing, surrounding skin will become red and begin to swell. In most cases a blister will actually form within 3-6 hours. Often there is a small amount of bleeding into the blister which will turn it dark purple of black. This is expected and should not be cause for concern.
Is my wart contagious after freezing? ›After a treatment, the skin will blister or get irritated and eventually slough off. That skin is dead and so is the virus within it so it isn't contagious anymore.
Why won't my wart fall off after freezing? ›
When a plantar wart does not go away after cryotherapy, it is usually because the entire wart was not exposed to the treatment. That can happen when a wart is very thick or the surface area of a wart is large. Another round of cryotherapy is then needed to eliminate the wart completely.
Does skin go back to normal after cryotherapy? ›You may find that a crust develops over the area which has been treated. This will usually peel or drop off within 2 weeks. You may develop another crust after this, but this too will heal. Very rarely do people develop infection after cryotherapy.
What if there is no blister after cryotherapy? ›If there are no sores, blisters or scabs in the treated area, no dressing is required. If your treated area develops a sore or a blister, cover it with a Band-Aid or similar adhesive dressing for 3 days.
Can liquid nitrogen damage skin? ›1. Liquid nitrogen has a boiling temperature of -196°C at atmospheric pressure. Direct contact can freeze the skin causing frostbite and cold burns. Delicate tissue, such as eyes, can be damaged by an exposure to the cold gas alone which would be too brief to affect skin.
Can nitrogen make you sick? ›* Contact with liquefied Nitrogen can cause frostbite. * Exposure to very high levels of pure Nitrogen can cause you to feel dizzy and lightheaded, and replaces Oxygen in the air causing loss of consciousness and death.
What is nitrogen side effects? ›- Most of the higher oxides of nitrogen are eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritants. ...
- Exposure to nitrogen oxides may result in changes of the pulmonary system including pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, emphysema, and possibly methemoglobinemia.
Risks of Whole-Body Cryotherapy
There have been reports of people getting frostbite or cold-induced rashes after whole-body cryotherapy. The extreme cold may also aggravate your other health conditions, including: High blood pressure. Heart disease.
In our study, patients with warts had significantly lower mean serum vitamin B12 level than patients without warts. Furthermore, they more frequently had decreased serum vitamin B12 levels.
Can wart removal make you sick? ›Wart Remover can cause a rare but serious allergic reaction or severe skin irritation. Stop using Wart Remover and get emergency medical help if you have: hives, itching; difficult breathing, feeling light-headed; or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Can warts spread through clothing? ›Because warts can spread even if your skin touches something that has come into contact with a wart, you should always wear your own socks, shoes, and other articles of clothing, and never re-use someone's used towel or razor.
What helps the pain after freezing warts? ›
If needed, you can give ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to alleviate discomfort. You can also apply ice pack to area up to 4 times a day. 2. The area around the wart may become slightly red and blister over the next 1-2 days.
Will liquid nitrogen leave a scar? ›Liquid nitrogen treatments don't typically leave a scar, but they may leave a mark of a different colour on the skin (usually whiter). This colour change usually resolves over time but in some cases persists.
Can you touch liquid nitrogen with bare hands? ›Liquid nitrogen splashes can result in cold burns. PPE requirements are designed to avoid eye and skin contact. Never handle liquid nitrogen, or items that have been in liquid nitrogen, with bare hands.
What does skin look like after cryotherapy? ›After Cryotherapy
The treated area will become red soon after your procedure. It also may blister and swell. If this happens, don't break open the blister. You may also see clear drainage on the treated area.
Warts are common skin growths. They are not cancer. And they don't turn into cancer. They are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
Can freezing warts cause nerve damage? ›If a wart is thick and requires extensive or repeated freezing, nerves around the wart can be damaged, scarring may occur, and the skin may take a long time to recover.
Are all warts caused by HPV? ›Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus is quite common and has more than 150 types, but only a few cause warts on your hands. Some strains of HPV are acquired through sexual contact.
What color are warts when they are dying? ›The covered warts become red and start to die. Once this happens, often all the warts will go away. Try to keep the warts covered all the time.
How long after wart turns black does it fall off? ›The skin on the wart may turn black in the first 1 to 2 days, which might signal that the skin cells in the wart are dying. The wart might fall off within 1 to 2 weeks.
Are there non STD warts? ›Non-genital warts (verrucas) are an extremely common, benign, and usually a self-limited skin disease. Infection of epidermal cells with the human papillomavirus (HPV) results in cell proliferation and a thickened, warty papule on the skin.
What virus causes warts? ›
What causes warts? Warts are caused by an infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). The virus causes an excess amount of keratin, a hard protein, to develop in the top skin layer (epidermis). The extra keratin produces the rough, hard texture of a wart.
How do you prevent warts from coming back? ›- Avoid touching someone's wart. ...
- Make sure that everyone in your home has their own towels, washcloths, razors, nail clippers, socks, and other personal items. ...
- Clean and cover cuts and scrapes. ...
- Wash your hands often. ...
- Prevent dry, cracked skin.
Surgical or other procedures. If salicylic acid and freezing medicine don't work, your health care provider may suggest one or more of the following treatments: Minor surgery. Your health care provider cuts away the wart or destroys it by using an electric needle (electrodesiccation and curettage).
How can I speed up my cryotherapy recovery? ›Starting the day after your procedure, wash the treated area gently with fragrance-free soap and water daily. Put Vaseline® or Aquaphor® on the treated area every day for 2 weeks. This will help the area heal and will keep it from crusting.
Should you rest after cryotherapy? ›Most people can go back to their normal routines right away. Talk to your healthcare provider about how long you should rest or if you should avoid any activities. Your provider may recommend avoiding vaginal intercourse, tampons and douching for a few days to a few weeks. That may help you heal and prevent infection.
What are 3 effects of cryotherapy? ›The most common side effects of any type of cryotherapy are numbness, tingling, redness, and irritation of the skin. These side effects are almost always temporary.
What happens after your first cryotherapy session? ›How will I feel after a Whole Body Cryotherapy session? When the session is complete, your skin will return to its normal temperature within minutes. Immediately after you may feel a slight tingling sensation, but within minutes you will likely feel relaxed and muscular pain generally begins to subside immediately.
How long after cryotherapy does scab form? ›Swelling and/or blistering often develop within a couple of hours after treatment. 2-3 days after treatment a scab will probably form which should then take 7-10 days to fall off, leaving a pink smooth area. Occasionally there may be a slight scar left after treatment.
Should you pop blister after freezing wart? ›Frozen Warts:
A blister means the freezing was effective and destroyed the wart tissue. Do not open the blister. It will dry up in a few days and peel off in 2 weeks. No treatment is needed.
Skin contact with LN can result in burns, blistering, and severe frostbite injury, which can occur within seconds of exposure. Skin damage from exposure to LN may be extensive enough to require surgery or amputation.
How long does it take for a wart to heal after freezing it? ›
Healing is generally quick (7 to 14 days) with little or no scarring. Within hours after treatment, a blister may form. If the blister breaks, clean the area to prevent the spread of the wart virus.
Is freezing a wart safe? ›Cryotherapy for warts is generally safe, but it has some risks. The biggest possible complication is infection of the wound, usually by bacteria. Symptoms include: increased swelling.
Can warts still spread after being frozen? ›Unfortunately, even though the skin around the area of treatment may look normal, there is often virus still present in it. So to answer your question – yes, that area of the hand can still be contagious with HPV virus even after treatment.
How long does it take for skin to heal after liquid nitrogen? ›You may also see clear drainage on the treated area. This is normal. The treated area will heal in about 7 to 10 days. It probably won't leave a scar.
How painful is getting a wart frozen off? ›Cryotherapy can hurt, and your doctor may use a local anesthetic to reduce pain. The treatment itself takes only a few minutes. Following the procedure, your foot may hurt for two to three days. A blister can form over the site of the wart but will typically disappear within a few days.
Do warts cause health problems? ›What are the complications of warts? Most warts go away without any significant problems. Sometimes warts cause issues, such as: Cancer: HPV and genital warts are linked to several different cancers, including anal cancer, cervical cancer and throat (oropharyngeal) cancer.
Do warts turn black after freezing? ›► Within minutes after freezing, surrounding skin will become red and begin to swell. In most cases a blister will actually form within 3-6 hours. Often there is a small amount of bleeding into the blister which will turn it dark purple of black. This is expected and should not be cause for concern.
What happens when a wart turns black? ›The skin on the wart may turn black in the first 1 to 2 days, which might signal that the skin cells in the wart are dying. The wart might fall off within 1 to 2 weeks.
How do you stop warts from growing back? ›- Keep your hands clean.
- Take care of your skin and don't bite your nails.
- Take care of cuts and scrapes with bandages.
- Always wear footwear around pools and public showers.
- Avoid touching warts on yourself or others.
- Avoid dull razors when shaving to prevent cuts.
Cryotherapy is a method with a high success rate in healing of genital warts, and it decreases the concentration of HPV virus and removes the trigger that allows the development of cancer.