Cryotherapy: Effective treatment approaches for warts and age spots

Cryotherapy plays an important role in podiatry and has been used to treat a variety of conditions – most commonly for the removal of warts. The application of extremely cold temperatures destroys the affected tissue, leading to the wart being shed. Liquid nitrogen has been used in most cases to apply it to the wart.

Cryotherapy can also be practical in the treatment of corns (clavi). Freezing helps to remove the dead tissue of the corn, thus relieving pain.

Cryotherapy can also be used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in certain podiatric conditions, such as plantar fasciitis (a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia). The extreme cold can help to reduce inflammatory reactions in the tissue.

Special cryotherapy devices and freezing systems are used for freezing in podiatry, such as aerosols when used in combination with templates or applicators. These ensure that the cooling liquid is applied only to the relevant area of skin and that the surrounding tissue is not affected. So-called cryo pens, such as the CryoPen O+, which is available in the RUCK product range together with suitable accessories, have proven to be especially convenient and effective.

Precise and virtually pain-free cryotherapy: applications for the CryoPen O+

With the CryoPen O+, warts or age spots can be frozen with pinpoint accuracy and deep-acting effectiveness. This is the safest and most sustainable method for the non-surgical removal of skin lesions of this kind. Using the convenient cryotherapy pen, affected skin tissue can be frozen with millimetre precision at the touch of a button. Treatment with the CryoPen O+ is virtually pain-free and takes only a few seconds.

With the CryoPen O+, treatment is virtually pain-free and takes only a few seconds. In podiatry, the use of a freezing pen represents a safe, quick and simple treatment option compared to swabs or liquid gas. Healthy tissue is not damaged during use, as the CryoPen O+ freezes the affected area with millimetre precision. When following the directions, the relevant area of skin is treated with N2O gas at -89 °C.

The treatment takes a maximum of 30 seconds and is virtually pain-free for patients. Cryotherapy is considered one of the most tried-and-tested and effective methods for treating warts, but can also be used, for example, to remove age spots. The CryoPen O+ delivers good results after just the first application, whilst subsequent complications are virtually non-existent. Thanks to its ergonomic shape, the pen fits well in the hand and allows practitioners to handle it safely. The CryoPen O+ can be operated using cryogas cartridges of various sizes: either 8 g or 16 g cartridges can be used. Changing the cartridges is simple and safe.

The CryoPen O+ Starter Set contains, besides the cryotherapy pen, four applicators and six cartridges in 16 sizes with varying diameters (Ø 1–3 mm, Ø 2–6 mm, Ø 4–8 mm and 1x applicator Ø 7–20 mm yellow). These provide the right solution for every application. To use the CryoPen O+ accurately, it is important that podiatrists familiarise themselves with both the cryotherapy technique itself and the handling of the instrument. Relevant directions for use can be found in the instructions for use.

Further aids for professional cryotherapeutic treatment

In podiatry, cryotherapy is used to treat certain skin and nail conditions. Cryotherapy procedures should only be performed by trained specialists to ensure optimum results and patient safety. The selection of suitable equipment is just as important as its accurate use. We would be happy to advise you on cryotherapy options in the field of podiatry and answer your questions regarding possible applications and accurate directions for the use of relevant products and equipment.

Aids such as Triangle, which can be used in combination with the CRYODERM cryotherapy spray, can also be found as a set in the RUCK Shop. This applicator can apply the coolant with precision to the treatment area thanks to three circular openings of different sizes (5 millimetres, 10 millimetres and 15 millimetres). The transparent material allows successful outcomes of the treatment to be monitored at all times. As the CRYOFUNNEL applicators are made from a special material that is not thermally conductive, the cooling liquid only contacts the area of skin being treated during application. Furthermore, the actual freezing temperature is maximised thanks to the use of this device.