Cryotherapy for Wart Removal Cost and Procedure Guide

Are you dealing with painful, unsightly or annoying warts? Some warts disappear on their own, but it can take months or years. Luckily, treatments like cryotherapy — freezing the wart by applying liquid nitrogen — can help the wart go away faster.¹

Keep reading to learn more about warts and how cryotherapy can help remove them.

What Is Cryotherapy for Warts?

Cryotherapy (aka cryosurgery) for warts involves freezing the skin growths. During cryotherapy, dermatologists use cryogens (freezing agents) like liquid nitrogen to target and destroy warts. With a temperature of -321 degrees Fahrenheit (-196 degrees Celsius), liquid nitrogen allows doctors to freeze and remove warts without cutting into the skin.²

If over-the-counter treatments like salicylic acid haven’t been successful — or you just want to quickly treat your warts — cryotherapy may be an option to consider.²

How Much Does Cryotherapy Treatment for Warts Cost?

The national average cost^** of cryotherapy for wart removal is $240, but the cost ranges between $180 and $395, depending on factors such as the size and number of warts as well as the number of required treatment sessions.⁴

Calculate the cost of cryotherapy for wart removal near you**

Average cost of cryotherapy for warts by state/district

Below is a breakdown of the average cost^** of cryotherapy to remove warts across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.⁴

Does Insurance Cover Cryotherapy for Wart Removal?

When cryotherapy is deemed medically necessary, it may be covered by insurance. Wart removal may be medically necessary to treat pain or bleeding or to reduce the likelihood of cancer. Cryotherapy for cosmetic purposes is typically not covered by insurance.⁵

How Can You Pay for Cryotherapy for Wart Removal?

There are several ways to pay for cryotherapy for wart removal, depending on what your provider offers and your budget. Some pay up front with cash, check or a credit/debit card. Others may choose a payment plan offered through the practice.

If you’d prefer to pay over time, the CareCredit credit card is another option many patients use for out-of-pocket health and wellness services. If approved, you can make monthly payments (with promotional financing options where available). Promotional financing options vary, so review the details and ask the office whether they accept CareCredit before deciding.

The Benefits of Cryotherapy for Wart Removal

There are several advantages to treating warts with cryotherapy. Typically, this treatment is:³

• Affordable. Cryotherapy is relatively inexpensive.
• Effective. Cryotherapy is known for its high success rate for wart removal.
• Minimally invasive. Unlike surgical procedures, cryosurgery does not involve anesthesia or cutting into the skin.
• Quick. This treatment typically takes just a few minutes in your doctor’s office.
• Safe. For most healthy people, liquid nitrogen-based wart removal is considered safe.

How Cryotherapy for Wart Removal Works

Wart removal with cryotherapy may include the following steps:⁶

1. Application of a local anesthetic to numb the wart
2. A scalpel or file to remove dead skin cells off the wart to allow the liquid nitrogen to penetrate deeper
3. A cotton swab, probe or spray to apply liquid nitrogen to the wart
4. Reapplication of liquid nitrogen if tolerated and needed

The whole process typically takes just a few minutes in your doctor’s office.⁶ You may feel minor pain during the freezing and a burning sensation when the skin thaws.¹ This discomfort may be decreased by applying a local anesthetic beforehand.⁶

Note that you may need multiple cryotherapy treatments, two to four weeks apart, to completely remove a wart.⁶ If these sessions are unsuccessful, your doctor may recommend another type of wart removal.²

Recovery

Soon after the cryotherapy procedure, the treated area may become sensitive, red and swollen.¹

Within hours, a blister may form around the wart. If the blister breaks, clean the fluid carefully to minimize viral spread. The blister should dry up over the next few days, and the wart may fall off.⁶

It takes about seven to 14 days for the skin to heal after cryotherapy.⁶ For genital warts, however, healing takes about one to three weeks.⁷

Aftercare

Gently wash the treated area with mild soap and water once a day. To avoid irritation and help the skin heal, apply petroleum jelly to the treated area. Cover the area if there’s drainage or chance of injury. Once the area has healed, apply sunscreen for protection against scarring.⁸

If you had cryotherapy for genital warts, it’s best to avoid sexual contact until the treated area heals.⁷

Possible Side Effects of Cryotherapy

Potential cryotherapy complications may include:⁶

• Blistering
• Changes in skin color
• Hair loss in the treatment area⁹
• Nerve damage near the treatment area
• Scarring
• Tenderness or pain

Limitations

Cryotherapy does not treat the virus that causes warts; it treats the warts themselves.⁷ Since there is no cure for the wart virus, warts can return in the same spot or elsewhere.¹⁰

Sometimes, old warts shed virus cells into the skin before treatment, and new warts grow around the old ones. To prevent continual recurrence, ask your dermatologist to treat new warts as soon as you see them.¹⁰

Alternative Treatments for Warts

Aside from cryotherapy, there are other wart treatment options to consider:¹¹

• Cantharidin. This in-office treatment involves painting the chemical cantharidin on warts, which causes a blister to form around and beneath them. At a future appointment, your doctor will slough off the dead warts.
• Chemical peels. Chemical peels with high-potency salicylic acid, tretinoin or glycolic acid may be prescribed for at-home treatment.¹⁰
• Electrosurgery and curettage. This treatment method combines using intense heat to burn the wart along with scraping off the dead skin.
• Excision. This procedure involves cutting out the wart.
• Laser treatments. Laser treatments for warts may be suggested as an option for warts that have not responded to other treatments.

Talk to your dermatologist to see if cryotherapy or one of these wart treatments is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Warts and Wart Removal

Do you still have questions about warts and wart removal? Here are answers to some common questions.

Financing Cryotherapy for Warts With the CareCredit Credit Card

When getting cryotherapy for wart removal or another cosmetic procedure, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Kate Bayless is a health and wellness freelance writer with 20 years of experience. Her work has appeared in Parents, Women’s Health, Beachbody and OpenFit.