Common warts, which appear on the hands and fingers, and plantar warts, which appear on the soles of the feet, are caused by the human papilloma virus. The HPV virus causes a small area of the skin to grow more rapidly than usual, says the Mayo Clinic. In most cases, common warts and plantar warts are harmless. Your doctor may recommend cryosurgery to freeze the wart away. Consult a doctor to determine if this treatment option is right for you.
Step 1
Prepare the wart for cryosurgery. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends applying 17 percent salicylic acid gel on the wart for two weeks before cryosurgery. Clean the area with soap and water, then apply the gel once every night.
Place a 40 percent salicylic acid pad over the wart after applying the salicylic acid gel. You can purchase over-the-counter salicylic acid pads at drugstores. Leave the pad on for 24 hours, remove it, clean the area and apply another salicylic acid pad.
Step 2
See your doctor. Your doctor will apply a small tool containing liquid nitrogen to the wart for several seconds. The area may feel numb and may be painful as the wart begins to thaw out after treatment. Freezing will create a blister underneath the wart, forcing the wart to fall off, says the Mayo Clinic.
Step 3
Monitor the wart. As the wart breaks away from the skin, it may look dry, white and hard. Consult your doctor if you experience any pain or discomfort or if the area around the wart looks swollen.
Step 4
See your doctor for additional treatments if necessary. In cases of larger warts, patients may require more than one cryosurgery treatment. If your wart does not heal completely within several weeks, contact your doctor.
Tips and Warnings
- Cryosurgery, unlike laser wart removal, does not usually leave a scar.
- Do not attempt to freeze genital warts.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- 17 percent salicylic acid gel
- 40 percent salicylic acid pad
