Cryo Surgery

Verrucae and warts

Cryo therapy is a form of treatment for Veruccae pedis ( foot) which are frequently referred to as warts. These may occur as single or multiple growths affecting the feet (and hands). Verrucae are one of the most common infections of the skin.

How do we catch them?

They may be caught by cross-infection from communal floor areas such as swimming pools and showers. Any lesion on the foot such as a blister or cuts might l increase the chances of infection as they provide an easier entry point for the virus.

Sweaty feet may predispose you more to a verruca as the skin is softer and the PH (acidity/ alkalinity) level of the surface skin is altered. However, it is not fully understood why some people are more susceptible than others. There is now some suggestion that the virus that causes verrucae lives on our skin in harmony with other bacteria and virus strains and that a lowering of our immune system with mild illness such as colds / flu/ stress or poor diet, can allow the virus to take up residence. This has lead us to understand more easily why they can heal themselves and vanish when the immune system is ready to recognise the virus and destroy it.

Treatment

Some verrucae will disappear spontaneously with no treatment, but we are unable to know whether a particular verruca will disappear or multiply.

Treatment is recommended if:

If the lesion is growing in size
More lesions are appearing
The lesion has become painful
They are present more than 2 years
The patient is worried about spreading them to other members of the family

What is cryo surgery?

Verrucae treatment involves the use of liquid nitrogen (which is held at a temperature of -196° C).

This freezes the lesion causing damage to the cells resulting in the body's own inflammation and healing to clear away the virus and therefore the Verucca. It can take several treatments to obtain resolution of a lesion. It is thought also to allow the immune system to develop a recognition of the virus so that the patient might fight it more easily next time it is present.

Cryo surgery can occasionally split the virus causing a larger lesion to form. It is worth noting this is a very rare complication of an otherwise useful treatment.

Brightwell Clinic does not recommend cryo therapy being used under 11 years of age. Veruccae Pedis virus will resolve of its own accord when the body's own immunity is ready to deal with it.