Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a common treatment for warts and verrucas. Although warts usually clear up without treatment, they can persist for some time (often a couple of years), so other treatments are often recommended.
These treatments include:
- Salicylic acid
- Duct tape
- Chemical treatments
- Cryotherapy
In the last of these, cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen is applied to your wart for a few seconds to freeze and destroy the affected skin cells. After treatment, a sore blister will form, followed by a scab, which will fall off 7-10 days later. Large warts usually need to be frozen a few times before they clear up, and you will probably need to wait a few weeks between each treatment.
Cryotherapy is not usually recommended to treat young children because they may find the treatment too painful. It may also be difficult for them to stay in the same position while having the treatment.
If cryotherapy hasn't been successful within three months, further treatments aren't likely to be effective.
