Mar 12 2009
Using Liquid Nitrogen To Treat HPV
by: Michelle Lipke
Liquid nitrogen is a popular destructive treatment for warts. It is readily available in both dermatology and primary care offices. Verucca-Freeze and many similar brands available over the counter are a liquid applied from a spray can, but only freeze to -70C. Warts may not resolve with the over the counter freezing due to the fact that they do not freeze as fast as the liquid nitrogen available in the clinic setting; as well as the proper application technique may not always be used. The wart virus, known as human papilloma virus (HPV), is not destroyed by the freezing procedure. Liquid nitrogen freezes at -196C and works by destroying the skin cells which in turn release the wart virus. They body responds to this process by causing an immune response to resolve the wart.
