Cauterizing warts with nitrogen is a common way to remove papillomas. This is a fairly effective method of getting rid of growths on the skin. If the procedure is performed efficiently, then in most cases, warts do not reappear in the same place. How is cauterization performed? And how to care for the skin after removal of papillomas? We will consider these issues in the article.
Description of procedure
Cauterization of warts with liquid nitrogen is the effect on papilloma cells at low temperatures. This procedure is otherwise called cryodestruction. Under normal conditions, nitrogen is in a gaseous state. At temperatures below minus 196 degrees, the gas liquefies. Such a cold liquid is also used to remove growths on the skin.
When exposed to liquid nitrogen on the papilloma, water freezes in the cells of the wart. As a result, the neoplasm on the skin dies. This procedure is always carried out under local anesthesia, since the effect of ultra-low temperature on the skin is accompanied by painful sensations.
After cryodestruction, a scar remains on the epidermis. If the procedure was carried out qualitatively, the scar disappears some time after cauterization of the warts with liquid nitrogen. A photo of the patient’s skin immediately after the procedure can be seen below.
Complete restoration of the skin takes from several weeks to several months. During this time, it is necessary to care for the postoperative wound and take medications prescribed by a doctor.
Advantages of cryodestruction
Nitrogen cauterization of warts has many advantages over conventional surgical removal. The following advantages of this method can be distinguished:
- With small papillomas, the procedure takes only a few minutes.
- This method is quite effective. In 90% of cases, cryodestruction allows you to completely get rid of warts.
- With proper skin care, scars resolve.
- Cryodestruction does not require special training.
- There is no bleeding during the procedure.
- Due to exposure to low temperature, the risk of spreading the infection is reduced. In addition, a crust forms at the site of the papilloma, which protects the wound from bacteria.
- This method is relatively inexpensive.
Minuses
However, this method of getting rid of growths on the skin has its drawbacks. The disadvantages of the procedure include:
- Soreness may remain for some time after cryodestruction. Discomfort is especially pronounced after removing the warts on the feet.
- It is rather difficult to control the exposure depth at low temperatures. With insufficiently deep processing, the patient may have the roots of papillomas. In this case, the wart grows again. If cryodestruction was excessively deep, then wound healing takes a long period of time.
- Excessive exposure to liquid nitrogen may damage healthy tissues.
- After the procedure, it is necessary to carefully care for the postoperative field.
- With cryodestruction, the wart is completely destroyed. Therefore, a biopsy and the study of papilloma cells is no longer possible.
Indications
Cryodestruction is indicated for patients with skin manifestations of papillomatosis. However, it is important to remember that the appearance of warts is always the result of infection in the body. The HPV virus can dwell in cells for a long time and be in a "sleeping" state. In this case, the patient's skin may remain clean. And only with a weakening of immunity on the epidermis do growths appear.
Cauterization of warts with liquid nitrogen helps to get rid only of the external manifestations of papillomatosis. This is a cosmetic procedure that eliminates skin defects. However, the virus continues to remain in the body, and relapses of papillomatosis cannot be ruled out. Therefore, cryodestruction is recommended to be supplemented with drug therapy. The patient is prescribed antiviral drugs to suppress the activity of the HPV virus and immunomodulators.
Contraindications
In some cases, patients should not be cauterized with nitrogen. Cryodestruction is not done if the patient has the following contraindications:
- Allergy to liquid nitrogen. If the patient has an increased sensitivity to this substance, then this method of removing warts must be abandoned.
- Pregnancy. During gestation, papillomatosis is often exacerbated in women. However, cryodestruction is contraindicated, especially in the first and third trimester. This procedure is stressful for both the expectant mother and the fetus.
- Upper respiratory tract infections. In acute manifestations of colds and flu, the procedure should be abandoned. Removal of warts with nitrogen can be done only after complete recovery.
- Epilepsy. This disease is an absolute contraindication to the procedure. Exposure to low temperatures can trigger a seizure.
- Hypertension. The procedure can cause a jump in blood pressure.
- Damage to the skin in the wart area. Liquid nitrogen cannot treat scratches, cuts and inflammations.
In the above cases, you should use alternative methods of removing papillomas, for example, electrocoagulation, a laser or special pharmacy solutions from growths on the skin.
How is the procedure
Let us consider in more detail the procedure for cauterizing warts with nitrogen. It is carried out using a cotton swab or a special probe. Removal of papillomas consists of several stages:
- The patient is injected with an anesthetic in the area around the wart. The drug begins to act in 10 - 15 minutes.
- Liquid nitrogen is located in a special cylinder, where the temperature is constantly kept low. The composition is applied to a cotton swab and is applied to the wart with a sharp movement. Some clinics use a cryoprobe. This nozzle is already connected to the tank. Nitrogen is released through it to the papilloma region.
- The effect of nitrogen on the affected area lasts about 30 seconds. This substance evaporates quickly at room temperature.
- Treatment with nitrogen of a large papilloma can be repeated several times. In this case, the specialist regulates the force of pressing the sticks on the neoplasm.
After exposure to nitrogen, the skin in the papilloma region turns pale. Then its color turns white. A white coating resembling a fluff appears on the outgrowth. This is a natural occurrence. The formation of a "gun" indicates successful cauterization of the wart with nitrogen. A photo of the skin area after the procedure can be seen below.
After the appearance of a white coating on the skin of the papilloma is considered removed. In the future, this area may swell and change color. The rules for skin care after cauterization will be discussed later.
Removal of plantar papillomas: features of the procedure
Nitrogen cautery of the plantar warts is considered a more complex procedure than the removal of growths in other areas of the skin. However, papillomas on the feet must be eliminated, because these formations cause a lot of inconvenience when walking.
Sole growths usually penetrate deep under the skin. Therefore, a stronger effect is needed to remove them. With cryodestruction, you have to put a lot of pressure on the skin. The composition on the papilloma area is kept for a longer time.
After cauterization, the patient may remain painful for a long time, since the skin on the feet is quite sensitive. The recovery period takes a longer time. Often, after such a procedure, a person cannot step on his foot, and he has to draw up a certificate of incapacity for a period of 2-3 weeks.
Nitrogen cauterization of warts on the foot sometimes has to be repeated several times. Such deep formations are not always amenable to removal the first time. The frequency of the procedure is determined by the doctor. In advanced cases, therapy can last 5-6 months.
Recovery period
After the procedure, edema appears at the site of the papilloma. The skin looks reddened. After a few hours (and sometimes after a day) a blister is formed filled with bloody contents. This is a natural reaction of the epidermis to cauterization of a wart with nitrogen. The bubble resolves independently within about 2 weeks. In no case should you touch and open it. This can lead to infection of the wound.
Resorption of the blister occurs within a week. In its place, a scaly crust forms. Then it disappears, and pink skin appears on the site of the former wart. The epidermis heals completely and becomes smooth for about 3 weeks after cauterization of the wart with liquid nitrogen. A photo of the patient’s skin before and after cryodestruction of the papilloma can be seen below.
In addition, during the recovery period, the patient may experience the following symptoms:
- pain in the area of the removed papilloma;
- a slight increase in temperature;
- general malaise.
Most often, such manifestations are observed in the first days after the procedure, especially when treating large areas of the skin. After cauterization of warts on the soles, the pain syndrome can be pronounced and last up to 2-3 weeks.
How to care for a wound
What to do after cauterization of the wart with liquid nitrogen? During the recovery period, the following rules must be observed:
- protect the treatment place from direct sunlight;
- Do not visit the solarium, bathhouse, sauna and swimming pools;
- Do not apply cosmetics to the affected area;
- Avoid accidental damage to the blister;
- Do not tear off the crust from the wound;
- do not apply a patch and bandages to the treatment site;
- Do not touch the wound with dirty hands.
After a bubble has appeared at the site of the removed wart, it is necessary to regularly treat this area of the skin with an antiseptic. As a disinfectant, salicylic acid or a potassium permanganate solution can be used. With these preparations, the skin is carefully washed twice a day.
After the crust falls off, anti-inflammatory ointments are applied to the wound:
- Solcoseryl.
- "Methyluracil".
- Hydrocortisone.
Also, the "Contractubex" gel is applied to the affected area. This drug promotes resorption of connective tissue and prevents the formation of scars.
Complications
With poor care of the postoperative wound, complications may occur after cauterization of the warts with nitrogen. The consequence of this procedure can be inflammation of the site of removal of the papilloma. This usually occurs due to damage to the blister and infection. In this case, care for the resulting wound should be even more thorough. Damaged skin should be washed with antiseptics as often as possible.
Another dangerous consequence of cauterization of warts with liquid nitrogen is suppuration of the blister. In this case, you must urgently visit a doctor. The appearance of purulent contents is the result of insufficient antiseptic treatment and the entry of bacteria into the wound.
After resorption of the bladder, a crust forms on the skin. If the patient accidentally stripped it off, then it is necessary to immediately rinse the wound with an antiseptic and apply an anti-inflammatory ointment to the affected area.
The appearance of spots is one of the unpleasant consequences of cauterization of warts with liquid nitrogen. Photos of such rashes can be seen below.
Spots are usually formed due to exposure to sunlight to the site of removal of the papilloma. To prevent their formation, it is necessary to protect the postoperative wound from ultraviolet radiation.
In rare cases, the wart grows again in the same place. This suggests that the procedure was carried out poorly, and the root of the formation was not destroyed. With a relapse of papillomas, moxibustion is repeated.
Procedure cost
Cauterization of warts with nitrogen is done in many clinics. Before carrying out such a procedure, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist. Only a specialist can identify indications for cryotherapy.
On average, cauterization of one wart can cost from 450 to 1000 rubles. The price of removing plantar papillomas is from 1100 to 1500 rubles per 1 element.
Pharmacy preparations
Nowadays, in pharmacies you can find drugs for cryodestruction ("Cryopharma", "Wartner Cryo"). These products contain various refrigerants (ethers and gases) in liquefied form. They are released in the form of aerosols for the cauterization procedure at home. Can I use such tools on my own?
Doctors do not recommend self-treatment of papillomatosis. Before removing warts with the help of pharmaceutical preparations for cryodestruction, you need to consult a specialist and carefully study the instructions for these funds.
A patient who does not have special skills can very easily make a mistake when using drugs with refrigerants. The result can be scars on the skin, destruction of nerve endings and loss of sensation. Such complications require long-term treatment. Therefore, it is better to entrust the cryodestruction procedure to a specialist and conduct it in a clinic.
Patient opinion
You can find many positive reviews about cauterization of warts with nitrogen. Patients report that after the procedure they practically did not have any marks on the skin. Over time, the wound healed, in its place a bright spot formed, which then disappeared. With good skin care, scars dissolve even after complex cauterization of plantar warts.
You can find different opinions about the painfulness of the procedure. Many patients did not experience any discomfort during cryodestruction. However, in some cases, a burning sensation and pain occurred during the procedure. Much depends on the individual characteristics of the human body. Discomfort during cauterization is most often complained by people with a low pain threshold.
The disadvantages of this method, patients include the consequences of the procedure. The resulting blister requires constant disinfection, while there is always a risk of damage to the postoperative bladder and infection.
Regarding the effectiveness of the procedure, in most patients the warts completely disappeared after cauterization. However, negative reviews of cryodestruction can also be found. They reported that this method did not help get rid of papillomas. Some time after the procedure, new warts appeared in the same place.
Relapses of papillomatosis can be associated with poorly performed cryotherapy and insufficiently deep exposure to the refrigerant. It is also important to remember that this procedure only helps to remove skin rashes, but does not affect the HPV virus. Therefore, after cauterization, it is necessary to take special drugs that suppress the activity of the pathogen and strengthen the immune system. Only an integrated approach to treatment will help completely get rid of warts.