Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy for verrucas is a treatment that freezes the verruca with liquid nitrogen to destroy infected skin. In practice, the clinician usually pares away some hard skin first for plantar warts, then applies the liquid nitrogen for a short freeze. Treatments are often repeated every couple of weeks if needed.
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a treatment that freezes the verruca with liquid nitrogen to damage the infected tissue and help it clear. It is usually done in in our Horsforth and may need repeat sessions.
Who has cryotherapy?
Not every verruca is alike. Recognising the specific type is essential for deciding on the most effective treatment. At the Yorkshire foot clinic, we expertly diagnose and address both varieties with tailored solutions that focus on comfort and lasting recovery.
Children
Kids have very strong immune systems, their bodies pick up verrucas and heal them very quickly cryotherapy can be very effective in Children.
First line of treatment
If you have not tried any treatments before, cryotherapy could be used as a first Time treatment to see how your body reacts.
New verrucas
the longer you have had your verruca, the harder they are to treat. If the verruca is very small and new, cryotherapy could be an effective option
Elderly
Invasive treatments like verruca needling could be too strong for people with a reduced ability to heal. Cryotherapy is a low pain, non invasive treatment option.
How effective is Cryotherapy?
Research from a major UK trial found that cryotherapy for verrucas was not more effective than salicylic acid. In the NIHR EVerT trial, verruca clearance at 12 weeks was 14.3% with cryotherapy and 13.6% with salicylic acid, with both groups reaching 31% clearance at 6 months. This highlights the importance of choosing the right verruca treatment based on the individual and the type of verruca being treated.
What to Expect After Treatment
What to expect after treatment
In both children and adults, it is normal to have stinging, soreness, redness, swelling, and sometimes a blister or crust/scab after cryotherapy. The treated area usually settles over several days, and blistering is an expected reaction rather than a sign something has gone wrong.
Children often find cryotherapy more uncomfortable at the time of treatment and in the first day or two afterwards, which is one reason it is not always the first choice for young children. Aftercare is usually simple: keep the area clean, avoid picking blisters, and use age-appropriate pain relief if advised by the clinician.
Adults tend to tolerate the procedure better, but they can still get the same after-effects: pain, blistering, tenderness, and temporary difficulty walking if the verruca is on a weight-bearing area of the foot. Adults are also more likely to notice treatment interfering with work, exercise, or longer periods of standing.
Main differences between children and adults
Children
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More likely to be distressed by the freezing itself.
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May need simpler, gentler aftercare instructions.
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Often bounce back quickly once the soreness settles.
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Because many childhood warts clear spontaneously, clinicians may be more cautious about using painful treatments.
Adults
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Usually better able to cope with the treatment, but plantar verrucas can remain sore for longer because of body weight and walking demands.
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May need to reduce sport, long walks, or prolonged standing for a short time if the treated area becomes blistered or tender