A Most of us suffer with hand warts, usually when we're young and sensitive to what other people think of us. Warts are caused by an infection with a virus which doesn't easily alert our body's defence system, so they can persist for years.
Over the counter, we can buy topical treatments. You soak the warts in warm water to soften them, grind them down with a pumice stone or emery board and apply the ointment daily. Treatment is slow but effective.
We can buy over the counter freezing remedies, but these are just not cold enough to emulate liquid nitrogen cryotherapy which is the real deal. Liquid nitrogen at -190 degrees C is delivered through a narrow nozzle from a vacuum flask. This freezes the skin almost instantly and lowers the temperature inside the wart to -40 degrees C which grievously damages it. The wart is kept frozen for 10-15 seconds and then treated a second time. Repeated treatments are necessary, usually on a monthly basis.
Children sometimes need a topical anaesthetic because the procedure is moderately painful.
I usually treat six times before calling a halt. So what happens then? Technology - single warts can be treated surgically with radio frequency surgery. Multiple warts can be blasted with a long wavelength laser or treated by photodynamic therapy, where a chemical is applied to make the warts light sensitive prior to exposing them to a very powerful light source.
For an appointment with Dr Griffiths call 08000852309 or visit blemishclinic.co.uk
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