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.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

Cryotherapy may be painful and cause blisters, scarring, or an open sore at the treatment area. The part of your skin that was treated may darken or lighten. Even after the procedure, the wart may not completely go away, or may come back. Sometimes, treatment of genital warts may cause pain that does not go away. Without treatment, your wart may grow in size or number, and become painful or bleed. The wart may spread to other parts of your body. Genital warts may cause problems with having sex and you may pass it on to another person. Ask your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your procedure, medicine, or care.

Getting Ready

Before your procedure:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.

Treatment

What will happen:

You may be given numbing medicine to decrease any pain you may feel during your procedure. Your caregiver may cut off the excess dead skin on your wart. Cryogen will be applied on your wart using a cotton swab, spray, or cryoprobe (long, pointed device). Freezing will be done until your wart is completely covered with ice. This may last from 5 to 60 seconds. The frozen tissue will then be allowed to thaw slowly. Freezing and thawing of the wart may be repeated after a few minutes. How long the treatment takes will depend on the size of your wart and the area being treated.

After your procedure:

You may see a small ring of ice around your wart. Your caregiver may cover it with a bandage to keep it clean and dry. When the procedure is over, you may be able to go home. You may have pain in the treated area after the procedure. In a few weeks, the dead wart tissue may dry up and fall off.

Contact a caregiver if

• You cannot make it to your appointment on time.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your procedure.

Seek Care Immediately if

• You have worsening pain or bleeding that does not stop.
  
  

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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.