Cryotherapy Wart Removal

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Cryotherapy is a procedure to treat your wart by freezing it. A wart is a thickened lump (growth) caused by a virus (germ) called human papilloma virus or HPV. It may appear on any area of your skin. This includes your face, hands, fingers, feet, and genital area (penis, vagina, or anus). A wart may also occur on the tissue lining the inside of your genitals. During the procedure, a cryogen (freezing chemical) is applied on your wart. Liquid nitrogen is the most common cryogen used. The freezing of the wart kills the skin cells so they cannot grow and spread.
  
  
• Cryotherapy wart removal is often done to decrease symptoms, such as pain, or remove a visible wart. It may also help stop the virus from spreading to other parts of your body, or to other people. You may need cryotherapy treatments every 1 to 4 weeks. You may need a total of 3 to 4 treatments to get rid of your wart. Your caregiver will tell you how many treatments you may need, and when you should have them. It may take 1 to 3 months for your wart to clear. Cryotherapy may also be used with other treatments, such as medicine, to treat your wart faster.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a current list of your medicines: Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists. Use vitamins, herbs, or food supplements only as directed.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him about any medicine allergies, and if you want to quit taking or change your medicine.

Follow-up visit information:

Ask your caregiver how often you need to have your treated skin checked. Ask him if and when you need to come back for repeat treatment. After your wart has gone away, you may need to visit your caregiver in 2 to 3 months. This allows your caregiver to check if your wart has come back. This also lets your caregiver check and treat problems caused by the cryotherapy. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your visit.

Self-care:

Your caregiver may want you to check your treated skin every day. Look for any signs of infection such as increased redness, swelling, or discharge. Clean the treated area as directed by your caregiver.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• The blister on your treated skin is painful or is not healing.
  
  
• You have increased swelling, redness, or bleeding from your treated skin.
  
  
• You notice pus or green, yellow, brown, or foul-smelling discharge coming from the treated skin.
  
  
• Your wart does not go away completely or other warts appear.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have worsening pain or swelling that does not go away.
  
  

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.