This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Cryotherapy for warts

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • cryotherapy is a technique that may be used in the treatment of viral warts

  • freezing of the wart is achieved via the use of liquid nitrogen - a temperature of -196 degrees centigrade can be achieved

  • cryotherapy is believed to cause cell damage via intracellular ice formation, blood supply changes, osmotic effects and immune stimulation. Cryotherapy does not kill the virus via the cold temperature - it destroys the tissue in which the virus lives

  • number of treatments to cure viral wart - about 75% of patients are cured after 4 treatments administered at 3-weekly intervals (1)

  • disadvantages of this form of treatment include:
    • absence of histology - therefore diagnosis cannot be confirmed
    • often painful

  • possible serious complications of cryotherapy include hypopigmentation, scarring, damage to underlying nerves, tendon rupture, risk of ulcer development (2)

Reference:

  • (1) Lawrence C. An introduction to dermatological surgery. Oxford: Blackwell Science, 1996.
  • (2) Pulse (1/9/01), 51.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.