An in vitro study comparing temperatures of over-the-counter wart preparations with liquid nitrogen.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Over-the-counter (OTC) wart-freezing therapies have appeared on the market claiming that they reproduce in-office cryotherapy.

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to determine whether these OTC home wart removal products are as cold as liquid nitrogen.

METHODS:

The coldness obtained by 3 representative commercial wart products, and liquid nitrogen, was assessed using a thermometer calibrated from -100 degrees C to 50 degrees C. Temperatures of the commercial wart products used were measured and compared with those obtained with liquid nitrogen.

RESULTS:

None of the OTC coolants were as cold as liquid nitrogen, and they did not lower temperature as quickly as liquid nitrogen.

LIMITATIONS:

This study did not evaluate the clinical efficacy of any of the agents studied.

CONCLUSIONS:

Despite advertising messages, OTC refrigerants do not achieve freezing equivalent to liquid nitrogen.

• Authors: Craig G Burkhart, Irene Pchalek, Melissa Adler, Craig N Burkhart
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (J Am Acad Dermatol) Vol. 57 Issue 6 Pg. 1019-20 (Dec 2007) ISSN: 1097-6787 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17719128 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Nonprescription Drugs
• Nitrogen

Topics

• Cryosurgery (methods)
• Freezing
• Nitrogen (therapeutic use)
• Nonprescription Drugs (therapeutic use)
• Temperature
• Warts (surgery)