A wart is a common, non-cancerous skin growth caused by an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus enters the skin through small cuts or breaks, causing the top layer of skin to grow rapidly, resulting in the characteristic rough bump. Cryotherapy is a standard medical procedure that involves using extreme cold to intentionally destroy the wart tissue, allowing healthy skin to regenerate underneath.
Urgent Care and Cryotherapy: The Direct Answer
Many urgent care clinics offer cryotherapy for the removal of common, non-genital warts. This is considered a routine, minor office procedure that aligns well with the scope of services provided in a walk-in setting. The freezing agent used is almost always liquid nitrogen, which is stored in a specialized insulated container. Liquid nitrogen has an extremely low temperature, typically around -196 degrees Celsius (-321 degrees Fahrenheit), making it significantly colder than any at-home freezing product.
The effectiveness of the treatment relies on this intense, localized cold to destroy the wart’s cells and the embedded virus. Most urgent care facilities have the necessary equipment and trained personnel to perform this type of skin lesion destruction. Availability can depend on the clinic’s specific equipment and staffing on any given day. For a straightforward, common wart, urgent care provides a quick and accessible option for professional treatment.
The Cryotherapy Process at an Urgent Care Clinic
The process begins with a medical provider examining the growth to confirm it is a benign, common wart suitable for cryotherapy. The liquid nitrogen is then applied using one of two primary methods: a cotton-tipped swab or a spray canister. Application is typically brief, lasting only a few seconds, to create a freeze-thaw cycle designed to damage the tissue.
Patients usually feel a sharp stinging or burning sensation during the application, which subsides quickly once the liquid nitrogen is removed. Shortly after the procedure, a blister will form at the treatment site as the body reacts to the freezing injury. This blister is a normal part of the healing process and should be protected. The dead wart tissue will eventually dry up and fall off within one to three weeks.
Because cryotherapy is a minor procedure, the cost is often billed as a combination of an office visit fee and a separate minor procedure fee. Self-pay patients might expect a total cost ranging from approximately $150 to $350, depending on the clinic and the number of warts treated. Multiple treatments are frequently necessary, with follow-up visits spaced about one to three weeks apart. A single session may not fully eliminate the deep viral tissue.
When to Seek Specialized Dermatology Care
While urgent care can handle many common warts, certain characteristics or patient factors necessitate a referral to a dermatologist or primary care provider. Warts that are particularly large, deeply rooted, or cover a significant area often require more aggressive or varied treatment methods than a typical urgent care clinic provides. The location of the wart is also a major determining factor for referral.
Warts located on sensitive areas, such as the face, near the eyes, on the genitals, or those growing around or under a fingernail (periungual or subungual warts), should be treated by a specialist. These locations pose a higher risk for scarring, pigment changes, or functional damage if not treated precisely. Patients who have a compromised immune system, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, should also seek specialized care, as their bodies may struggle to clear the virus after treatment.
If a wart fails to respond after multiple cryotherapy sessions (typically three or more), the urgent care provider will recommend a specialist who can offer alternative treatments. Persistent warts may require stronger prescription topical medications, different types of surgical removal, or laser therapy. A change in the wart’s appearance, such as sudden growth, color change, or bleeding, also warrants evaluation by a dermatologist to rule out other skin conditions.
At-Home and Over-the-Counter Wart Treatments
Before seeking professional help, many people attempt to treat warts using various over-the-counter products. The most common and effective non-professional option involves using products containing salicylic acid, a type of keratolytic agent. This acid works by slowly dissolving the protein that makes up the wart and peeling away the layers of infected skin.
Salicylic acid is available in various concentrations and forms, including liquids, gels, and adhesive pads. These treatments require consistent daily application over a period that may last several weeks or months to be effective. Another option is the use of over-the-counter freezing kits, which attempt to mimic professional cryotherapy.
These home kits use a mixture of refrigerants, such as dimethyl ether and propane, to cool the wart. However, they do not achieve the extremely low temperatures of liquid nitrogen, making them less potent and less likely to be effective for larger or deeper warts. The duct tape method, while popular, has inconsistent scientific evidence supporting its efficacy.