Warts that are very annoying and feel uncomfortable can be removed by freezing. Warts grow from blood vessels, and if those vessels are damaged through clotting, the warts will die and fall off. To freeze warts, dermatologists use very cold liquid nitrogen. This method should not be done alone at home because liquid nitrogen is very painful and causes tissue damage if not used properly. For home treatments, you can buy over-the-counter medications in the form of a wart freezing kit.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Preparing to Freeze Warts
Step 1. Know how to freeze warts
Freezing kit products use dimethyl ether and propane to freeze the wart and surrounding tissue. Be aware that warts don't come off immediately after the procedure. The warts will gradually disappear after a few procedures and take about 3 or 4 weeks.
Warts are caused by a virus that causes abnormal cell growth in the skin. Freezing is an effective way to kill the virus
Step 2. Identify the type of wart you have
There are certain types of warts that respond better to the action of freezing, and some do not. If warts appear in the pubic area, never ever try freezing it at home. Genital warts are caused by a virus that should be treated by a doctor. Here are some other types of warts:
- Common warts: These are small, hard lumps that are normally gray or brown in color. Usually, these warts have a rough surface and grow on the fingers, hands, knees, and elbows.
- Foot warts: These are hard warts that grow on the soles of the feet. These warts cause a very uncomfortable feeling when walking.
- Flat warts: These are small, smooth warts with a flat surface. The color is pink, light brown, or yellow. These warts usually grow in groups on the face, arms, knees, or hands.
Step 3. Know when to see a dermatologist
If the warts cannot be treated at home, are enlarged, or are painful, see a doctor or dermatologist. You should also see a doctor if you suspect the lump is not a wart, warts are growing in the pubic area, your immune system is weakened, or you have diabetes and warts are growing on your feet. A dermatologist can diagnose warts just by looking, or through tests if necessary. He or she may perform a biopsy to remove a small amount of tissue from the wart, which will be used to study the virus that causes the wart.
Understand that the virus that causes most warts may return. You may see warts reappear in the same place or in a new location. If you're having trouble removing the wart, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor
Method 2 of 4: Freezing Warts with Over-the-counter Freezing Kits
Step 1. Prepare the wart area and equipment
Wash the wart area and your hands. Most spray kit products are sold in small cans containing cryogen, which is a refrigerant mixture. Some are also sold with foam-tipped application tools. The action doesn't take long. So, make sure all the equipment is at hand.
Read and follow the specific instructions on the packaging
Step 2. Install the spray kit
Insert the application tool, which is usually a stick with a foam tip, into the handle. Place the spray can on a stable surface. Then, slide the application handle onto the top of the spray can.
Do not hold the spray can close to your face. The mixture is very cold so you have to be careful not to accidentally spray it
Step 3. Fill the can
Hold the can on the table with one hand. With the other hand, press down on the handle until you hear a hissing sound. Press and hold for 2-3 seconds. The pressure will wet the application tool with cryogen. After that, release the handle along with the application tool. Wait 30 seconds.
The application tool will be full of coolant and look foggy. You will also smell dimethyl ether
Step 4. Apply the freezing mixture on the wart
Press the tool gently. Don't rub it, just press it. Most kits recommend pressing the wart for 20 seconds or less, depending on the size of the wart. After that, remove the tool and don't touch it. Discard and wash your hands.
If the wart is located on a finger or toe, move your finger gently when applying the freezing mixture. You may feel pain, itching, or stinging
Method 3 of 4: Freezing Warts with Liquid Nitrogen
Step 1. Visit a doctor for a freezing procedure with liquid nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen should not be used alone at home as it can cause tissue damage if done incorrectly. If you want to treat warts yourself, choose another method.
- Children cannot tolerate freezing with liquid nitrogen because it is painful and uncomfortable.
- Liquid nitrogen should be used with care to avoid nerve damage and neuropathy.
- Never use liquid nitrogen on your face. Use with caution when dealing with darkly pigmented skin tones so as not to cause skin discoloration.
Step 2. Go through the freezing process
The doctor will pour a small amount of liquid nitrogen into a polystyrene glass. The use of these glasses will keep the liquid nitrogen clean, especially if it is used by several people. Then, the doctor will dip a cotton swab in nitrogen and apply it to the wart. The cotton bud should be applied directly in the center of the wart with light pressure. This action is repeated until a freeze zone appears. The color of the wart will turn white. The doctor will add pressure gradually to complete the clotting.
- EMLA cream may be used to reduce pain and discomfort.
- The frozen tissue will become hard, and if you squeeze it from the sides, you will feel the frozen tissue between your fingers.
Step 3. Soak up the wart
Although after application the wart turns white, the color will slowly return. If you think the freeze is not enough, please repeat this process. You will feel a slight sting of cold.
If the pain is intense, it's a sign that the liquid nitrogen has damaged healthy skin
Method 4 of 4: Monitoring Warts After Action
Step 1. Use a bandage
There may be no need to wrap the wart with a bandage if it doesn't cause any discomfort. However, if warts grow on the soles of your feet, you may need a special bandage to walk more comfortably.
Most bandages for foot warts are round with padded edges. The center is not cushioned so the wart is not compressed. The pads are what make it easier for you to walk
Step 2. Leave the wart after the procedure
You may notice blisters or blood a few hours after clotting. The wart area may be slightly burned and irritated. Recovery usually takes 4–7 weeks. Don't pop the blisters or peel off dead skin, as that can expose the tissue beneath the virus that makes the wart grow back.
Step 3. Repeat the action if necessary
If the wart doesn't seem to be shrinking, you may have to repeat the procedure with the freezing mixture. Wait 2-3 weeks before repeating the freezing process with the kit product. If you've previously had liquid nitrogen freezing, make an appointment with a dermatologist to assess it and see if a repeat procedure is needed.
- Warts are sometimes difficult to remove. The doctor may need to try several methods to facilitate removal of the wart.
- Understand that over-the-counter kits are not as cold as liquid nitrogen used by doctors. Therefore, you may need some action and more time before the wart can come off.
Tips
- Freezing is only one method of removing warts. There are still several other methods that can be used, for example: application of salicylic acid, liquid nitrogen, imiquimod, 5-fluorouracil, as well as bichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid.
- The liquid nitrogen will be painful and it will feel as if you can't move your hand (or the wart area), but after a while, try moving your finger or the wart area so it doesn't hurt as much.
Warning
- There are some warts that can be cancerous or indicate a serious condition that requires additional treatment which can sometimes be lifesaving. The difference is so small that only a professional dermatologist can recognize it.
- This procedure is best applied to small warts that are about 4 mm in size or about the size of a pea. In principle, large warts can be treated by freezing a pea-sized portion of the edge, then waiting for the skin to fully heal (about 2 weeks) before applying a second freeze. Never freeze larger areas as this will cause large, painful blisters with a risk of infection.
- Do not try to use an ice cube as it is not cold enough to freeze the wart.
