During the treatment of warts, a cotton swab is dipped in liquid nitrogen. This swab is then pressed onto the wart, causing it to freeze. This usually takes about 10 seconds. The procedure is often repeated 1 or 2 times.
The freezing of warts causes a burning sensation and can be experienced as painful. Please prepare your child for this to avoid surprises.
A few points of attention:
- A blister may form after the treatment; do not puncture it, as the blister usually disappears on its own after a week. To relieve the discomfort of the burn/blister, you may apply pure petroleum jelly.
- If the wart has not disappeared after one treatment, the procedure can be repeated every 2 to 4 weeks.
- Do you or your child suffer from plantar warts that have been under the foot for more than three months? In that case, treatment with nitrogen is of little use. We then advise treating the wart with salicylic acid. In this instance, please contact the medical assistant or GP for further advice.
