Warts are harmless growths on the skin caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
There are over a 100 strand of this virus, of which only 5 cause common and plantar warts. There are multiple treatments available to remove warts, however, many of these treatments require constant application and can be tedious to use.
Medical practitioners have many treatments options available to remove warts, namely:
Cryotherapy, cautery, chemical treatments, laser or surgical removal. Cryotherapy has been used by medical practitioners for over 100 years (2) and is still one of the most popular methods today.
Cryotherapy involves freezing a skin lesion or wart, using an extremely cold substance (usually liquid nitrogen).
Freezing destroys the wart at its core, while the immune system attacks it. The immune system stimulates an inflammatory response which causes a blister to form around the wart.
This blister will eventually ‘pop’ or ‘break’, removing the wart and leaving healthy skin tissue behind. Wart removal varies from person to person and multiple treatments may be required for certain patients.
Usually, the blister peels off in 10-14 days but you may require up to 3 treatments to remove the wart. In cases of plantar warts, frequent treatments may be required as the plantar wart penetrate deep into the epidermis.
Cryotherapy needs to reach a minimum temperature of -50◦C to cause tissue destruction. The degree of damage depends on the rate of cooling and the minimum temperature achieved.
There are 3 main types of liquids used in cryotherapy:
1. Liquid nitrogen (the most common method used by doctors).
Liquid nitrogen was first available for use in the 1940’s and is still used as the main source of cryotherapy
today. It reaches a temperature of -196◦C.
2. Carbon dioxide (commonly used 20 years ago)
3. Dimethyl ether and propane or DMEP (available over the counter as Wartner).
Wartner:
Wartner is the world’s number one selling, over the counter cryotherapy product. It contains a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane (DMEP).
This mixture freezes warts and verrucas effectively at a temperature of -57°C. Wartner has the best cryogenic properties on the South African market and reaches a colder temperature than competitors containing dimethyl ether.
It is also proven to remain at this temperature for the optimum temperature thus ensuring effective blister formation.
Wartner is proven to be a safe and effective product. It allows patients to treat warts at the comfort of their own home.
Wartner is easy to use, convenient and is clinically proven to remove warts in 1 -3 treatments. Wartner provides a significantly shorter treatment period in relation to many over the counter topical treatments.
