The Dermscan Poland laboratory has been asked by Oystershell Laboratories to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new cryogenic device for the treatment of warts.

Cutaneous warts (both vulgar and plantar) are common skin lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). They can be treated under medical supervision by liquid nitrogen but other devices for home treatment exist.

The objective of this study was to compare a nitrous oxide device with dimethylether propane-based products with either a flexible applicator (comparator 1) or a metal nib (comparator 2). The efficacy endpoint selected was the percentage of cured subjects after one to maximum three treatments.

► With the new device, a cure rate of 71% was observed after a maximum of three applications; this rate was significantly higher than that observed with devices 1 and 2 (46.2% and 47.5% respectively).

► Almost three times more subjects were cured after 1 application with the new device (29.3%) compared to devices 1 (10.4%) and 2 (12.5%).

► Reported side effects with the 3 systems were transient and typical of cryotherapy. All treatments were well tolerated.

This study demonstrated that the new cryogenic nitrous oxide device is a safe, simple and effective wart treatment for home use.

This study resulted in a publication in the journal “Dermatology and Therapy”.

Walczuk I., Eertmans F., Rossel B., Cegielska A., Stockfleth E., Antunes A., Adriaens E.

Efficacy and Safety of Three Cryotherapy Devices for Wart Treatment: A Randomized, Controlled, Investigator-Blinded, Comparative Study.

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) (2017).

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-017-0210-5