Cryotherapy Wart Removal Aftercare
Stage 1
(Immediately after treatment): After the treatment, you may have an itchy or stinging sensation. This is normal and is caused by histamines being released around the treated area. The sensation will disappear within 10-20 minutes.
Stage 2
(Within the first 24 hours of treatment): Within 24 hours, you may see swelling or blistering in the area. The blister may not be visible to the naked eye. If you do get a blister, do not try to pop it as it will go down on its own. If the blister pops on its own it may weep, Germolene can then be applied to the treated area twice a day. If there is weeping, a plaster can be used to cover the area. (Blistering can happen with any Cryotherapy treatment and is indiscriminate. The Cryopen is the most effective way of avoiding blisters as it only treats the affected area and not healthy tissue).
Stage 3
(1 – 7 days post treatment): The blister and/or swelling will go down and the treated area will dry out, go darker or form a scab. Do not pick at the area as it will take longer to heal. The scab will naturally fall off when the area underneath has healed. If the scab is accidentally knocked off, it will take longer to heal, but it will not affect the end result of the treatment.
Stage 4
(7 – 28 days after treatment): The wart will fall off naturally and reveal new pink skin underneath. The pink skin is not scarring and will re-pigment over the following weeks. In some cases, warts will take more than one treatment to disappear completely; however, even in such cases there will usually be a reduction in the size of the wart.
Important:
- Use sunblock factor 50 on the treated area until it has re-pigmented.
- Avoid glycolic acids, Vitamin C, scrubs, Tretinoin (Retin-A), and Retinol creams for 7 to 10 days.
- Do not pick at the area.
- If the skin being treated is tanned, the area treated with Cryotherapy will re-pigment to the skin’s original color.
- The crust usually falls off within 4 weeks of the treatment, however, the skin sometimes takes longer to regenerate.
- Swimming or hot tub use should be avoided for one week following a treatment or while the skin is open.
- Treated areas which have not healed within 6 weeks should be seen by a doctor or dermatologist.
Adverse Effects:
The most common adverse effects of Cryotherapy are swelling and blistering, pain, pale discoloration of the skin and rarely infection. It is not uncommon to get a small amount of oozing from the wound. However, if it does this persistently, place some gauze on top of the wound and contact the clinic/111/your GP or if severe please go to your nearest A&E department.
Swelling/blistering:
The goal of Cryotherapy is to achieve a blister. However, often the blister is so thin that it can’t be seen and it may have minimal swelling. Sometimes, a blood blister will form which can look quite dramatic but is harmless.
Pain:
As with any blister it can be slightly painful. The pain should for most people be mild, and subside within a day or so. Paracetamol can be taken as required (as advised on packaging). We suggest that you avoid aspirin, Anadin or ibuprofen as these medicines can increase the risk of bleeding.
Infection:
Rarely, the blister may become infected. When this happens, the blister becomes unusually tender, the fluid becomes cloudy, and the redness around it becomes more extensive. Contact the clinic or your GP if this happens. (See stage 2 for prevention of infection).
Pale discolouration:
Some lesions, especially those on the face, may leave a slight pale discoloration. True scarring, involving deeper layers of the skin is unlikely.
Exercise:
Depending on the site of the wound, strenuous exercise is not recommended for at least 4 weeks after your procedure. If you have any queries, ask the nurse for advice.
Scar Care:
After suture removal, the wound will look a little red and scabbed. Do not pick the scab or force its removal. As part of the healing process, scars are often red and lumpy initially. This gradually improves with time. After one month, regular massage with Vaseline or bio-oil 2-3 times a day will help to improve the appearance of the scar. The scar will take up to 3 months to settle down completely. If you are concerned that the scar is very large/lumpy 2-3 months after surgery, contact the clinic to speak to the nurse.