Top of the page. Treatment Overview Cryotherapy cryosurgery destroys genital warts by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. A doctor applies liquid nitrogen to and around the warts. First, the tissue is frozen with liquid nitrogen. Then, the tissue is allowed to thaw. The tissue is frozen again, if needed.
The time of application varies by the doctor who applies the liquid nitrogen and the size of the warts. Up to three treatments may be needed. You may have a mild to moderate burning sensation during the treatment. Genital warts in the urethra or anus usually require the most treatments because the warts may be inside the opening. After treatment, the following may occur: Irritation, soreness, or mild pain may occur. You may have swelling. You may have dead tissue shed off.
Sores or blisters may form. Men and women For men and women who have had cryotherapy for external genital warts , call your doctor for any of the following: A fever Continued bleeding Bad-smelling or yellowish discharge, which may indicate an infection Continued pain Avoid sexual intercourse until the treated area heals and the soreness is gone.
Women Be aware of the following after treatment for vaginal or cervical warts : A watery vaginal discharge may occur for about 1 to 3 weeks. Sanitary napkins should be used instead of tampons for 2 to 3 weeks. People sometimes use other methods, such as applying duct tape to the area for several weeks.
However, these approaches have no or very slim scientific backing. Most people experience minor pain during cryosurgery and a burning sensation when the skin thaws afterward. During and immediately after the procedure, the treatment site may change color and swell. There may also be soreness for a few days. About 24 hours after the procedure, a blister forms around the wart, and it resolves within 2 or 3 days. The entire recovery typically takes around a week, and it is important to keep the area clean, dry, and free from friction or pressure throughout this time.
Usually, plantar warts, large warts, and those in areas with a lot of pressure or friction tend to cause the most pain and complications, such as scarring or tissue damage.
Other potential complications of cryosurgery include:. Dermatologists can reduce the risk of complications by limiting contact with liquid nitrogen to under 30 seconds. A secondary infection developing in the site of cryosurgery is uncommon. The symptoms include:. Anyone with symptoms of a secondary infection should contact a doctor, who may prescribe a topical antiseptic or an oral antibiotic.
Many w arts disappear without treatment. It may also be possible to remove small warts with over-the-counter products. If warts are large, numerous, or persistent, it may be best to have them professionally removed.
This is particularly beneficial for people with certain chronic conditions or weakened immune systems. To remove a wart, a dermatologist might use cryosurgery, or cryotherapy. This involves briefly applying liquid nitrogen to the skin. The healing period is about 1 week, and complications are rare, though they can occur. Cryosurgery does not treat the underlying HPV infection that causes warts, and warts may regrow, in the same spot or elsewhere.
You may have some pain for up to three days following the procedure. You should be fully recovered within two weeks.
You may also develop a blister over the site of the wart. If the blister breaks, clean the area with an antiseptic wipe. This will minimize the spread of virus from the wart. In most cases, the blister and wart will disappear within a few days. If the blister is still giving you pain or still contains fluid after this, call your doctor for a second evaluation. An older study from found that duct tape occlusion therapy was more effective at treating the common wart than cryotherapy.
According to the study, cryotherapy successfully treated warts in 60 percent of participants. Duct tape occlusion therapy was successful for 85 percent of participants. Duct tape occlusion therapy should only be performed by a certified professional. More research is needed to better understand the efficacy of cryotherapy in the treatment of warts. 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:. Cryotherapy can be an effective treatment for nongenital warts that provides minimal scarring. More research is needed to understand its efficacy, but most dermatologists offer it as a potential treatment.
Warts are raised bumps on your skin caused by the human papillomavirus HPV. The skin doctor dermatologist will decide if it needs to be treated again. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. Dermatology Looking for services or physicians who can help treat this condition? Click Here.
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