Wart Removal 

A brief overview of warts.

Warts are the result of a HPV infection. HPV, also known as human papillomavirus, is so common that almost every person will have at least one wart during their lifetime. There are over 100 different strains of HPV that will cause warts to grow. Some strains favour the hands or feet, some the face and some the genitals. Importantly, none of the strains of HPV that cause warts are dangerous.

Warts can look very different depending on the location on the body, the amount of surrounding hard skin and the strain of HPV. Some are long and finger-like and often found on the face. Some are raised and rough and often found on the hands. Some are flat and smooth and often found on the face. Some are flat and calloused and often found on the soles of the feet.

If at all in doubt, get your GP to look at the suspected wart, as some warts can resemble other skin lesions. Prior to treatment you will be required to confirm that your GP has diagnosed your lesion as a wart.

What can I expect from the treatment?

Just like liquid nitrogen wart removal, the Cryopen uses very low temperatures to target the wart. The Cryopen is an advanced cryotherapy innovation and uses a fine jet of N 2O at a temperature of –89°C, to thoroughly freeze the wart. Warts are frozen in two cycles:

  • First cycle - Freeze. The first cycle freeze will last between 5-30 sec depending on the size, depth and location of the wart.

  • Rest period - Thaw. After the first freeze cycle, the tissue is allowed to thaw for about 30 seconds. 

  • Second cycle - Freeze. The tissue will freeze faster during the second freeze cycle, allowing for the treatment to reach the deeper layers of the wart

How many treatments will I need?

The time it takes to remove a wart depends on many factors, such as where the wart is located, how much hard skin in covering the wart and how large it is. Some warts disappear after just one treatment, while others need several treatments with 2-3 weeks in between. If the wart has not responded to treatment and remains the same size after 4 treatments it is unlikely that any further treatment will be beneficial. However cryotherapy, be it using liquid nitrogen or the Cryopen, has one of the best success rates when it comes to wart removal.

To improve the effectiveness of the treatment, filing down any hard skin that may cover the wart will allow for the cold to penetrate the wart quicker and easier.

What happens after the treatment?

In most cases a blister will form. However, the location of the wart and the thickness of the skin around the wart will determine whether this happens or how long it takes for the blister to form. Sometimes a crust or scab will form instead. After a week or two the wart will usually fall off. It may be that only part of the wart disappears and further treatments are needed to remove the remaining.

 
 
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Filliform warts versus skin tags

The majority of warts have a very distinct appearance, looking like little rough bumps usually round in shape and less than one centimetre wide.

However, one type of wart which can often be confused with a skin tag is the filiform wart. The filiform wart is caused by a subtype of the HPV virus. More than 70 subtypes of the HPV virus are known, each causing different types of warts on different parts of the body.

What does cryotherapy do to the skin.
What does cryotherapy do to the skin.

The effects of applying low temperature to the skin gradually increases as the temperature drops. Initially proteins and lipids, as well as the metabolism of the cell is altered. As the temperature drops below 0°C, first the water outside the cell begins to crystallise, causing the cell to dehydrate. At temperatures below −20°C, the water inside the cell starts to crystallise, and at −40°C intracellular ice formation is certain.

How does skin heal after cryotherapy
How does skin heal after cryotherapy

At the clinic, the agent used for cryosurgery is N 20, a gas which has been adopted as an alternative to liquid nitrogen. Cryosurgery is a safe, non-invasive treatment for unwanted skin growths and blemishes. Immediately during and after the treatment, you may feel a stinging sensation as the tissue is frozen and thawed. Some may only notice this during the treatment, for other this sensation may linger for a few hours after, especially if multiple lesions were have been treated in the same area. A mild analgesic ointment can be applied to relieve the sensation.

The history of the use of cryosurgery in dermatology
The history of the use of cryosurgery in dermatology

Cryosurgery (meaning cold handiwork) is also known as cryotherapy, cryocautery, cryocongelation and cryogenic surgery. Cold therapy has a long history of being used for analgesia and anti-inflammatory purposes, going as far back as the ancient Egyptians. However, during the past 200 years, it has evolved into a more specific use, namely the destruction of tissue in dermatology.

6 types of hyper-pigmentation: causes and treatments
6 types of hyper-pigmentation: causes and treatments

Most individuals will experience some form of hyper-pigmentation during their lifetime. Hyper-pigmentation can take many forms, but is essentially an overproduction and an abnormal distribution of pigmentation, usually melanin. Thankfully, there are many treatments on offer to reduce and/or remove such pigmentation. At my clinic in East Finchley, I have successfully been removing sun, age and liver spots with cryotherapy for several years.

This articles has been put together to give you an overview of the different types of hyper-pigmentation and to help you make the right choice when it comes to treating this condition.

Common skin lesions and growths found in older skin
Common skin lesions and growths found in older skin

As skin becomes older changes start to happen. It is common for skin to become dryer, thinner and less elastic as well as for fine lines to appear. Sun exposure can speed up changes in the skin, and be a factor in age related changes such as unwanted dark patches, roughness and wrinkles. Here we take a look at the most common skin growths found on ageing skin.

Diagram side view of the common wart
Side view diagrams of the most common forms of warts.

Warts can take on many different appearances. Here is a slideshow of the most common types of warts as seen from a side view.

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How to distinguish flat warts from other similar looking skin conditions.

Recently a client visited the clinic with what appeared to be flat warts around the nose, forehead and eyes. However, after a closer inspection an alternative diagnosis was considered. Flat warts can easily be mistaken for other skin conditions. Here we take a look at flat warts and compare them to two other very common skin condition.

Cherry angiomas (red spots): Causes and treatment.
Cherry angiomas (red spots): Causes and treatment.

Cherry angiomas, as they are most commonly known, are little clusters of broken blood vessels on the skin. They usually look like domes ranging in colour from bright red to purple, however they can also appear flat. They usually start out very small, the size of a pinprick, and grow larger over time. Cherry angiomas are harmless, however some people go on to have them removed due to cosmetic reasons.
Research has yet to find a concrete cause of cherry angiomas. However, it has been linked to pregnancy, climate, toxins and ageing. Some people are also thought to have a genetic predisposition for developing these type of lesions. 

Removing warts: The pros and cons of the different methods available.
Removing warts: The pros and cons of the different methods available.

Warts are caused by a common virus. With over 100 different types of the wart virus, most people will have at least one type of wart in their lifetime. Warts will usually disappear on their own in time. However, just one wart can quickly multiply, as warts are spread by direct contact. In particular, picking at or accidentally cutting the wart with a razor, can make the wart spread very fast.

Thankfully there are many options available to remove warts. The list below will cover home remedies as well as professional wart removal treatments available.