Plasma pen
The latest generation of plasma pens operate at low temperature and high frequency. The wart is burnt instantly when applying the pen the first time and permanently removed. The type of treatment means that blood vessels shrink away immediately and the procedure is completely free of bleeding.
Afterwards, a scab forms where the wart was situated, which protects the skin from infection, giving it time to regenerate. Within about a week, the scab comes off naturally.
Benefits of removing warts by plasma pen
- Immediate removal
- Rapid healing and regeneration of the skin
- One treatment is usually enough, although there are cases when it is necessary to repeat the procedure
- No visible scars
What are warts, anyway?
Warts, or, verrucae in Latin, are growths on the mucous membranes or skin. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They commonly appear on the fingers, palms and soles of the feet.
Being of viral origin, there is a chance of transmission of warts from person to person. This happens by either direct or indirect contact. For example, shared (communal) showers, saunas and swimming pools are places of risk. Therefore, it’s recommended to use suitable footwear and sit on one’s own towel.
The incubation period of a wart may last several months.
Patients applicable for the treatment
Anyone can undergo the treatment, although a consultation is necessary to find out whether anything would prevent removal of the wart by this method.
Wart removal with the plasma pen is best suited to locations on the body where no visible scars are desirable after the healing process ends.
This makes it a frequent choice for areas where the skin can rub or be irritated by clothing (e.g. under a bra, around the neckline of a T-shirt, etc.) and surgical removal would risk stretching the scar and hinder recovery.
Steps of plasma pen treatment
Since it constitutes a form of outpatient treatment, there’s no need to undergo any pre-operative examination. It’s possible to have both the consultation and the wart removed with the plasma pen on the same day.
The amount of pain experienced during the procedure varies from person to person. It depends on the size and location of the wart, as well as the person's sensitivity. If desired, a numbing cream can be used. After the treatment, you can go home, and the restrictions during the healing process are minimal.
It’s best to undergo the procedure during the colder months, but this isn’t really necessary. The treatment lasts around 15–30 minutes, depending on the number of areas involved.
The healing process
Immediately after the wart is removed, a small scab forms and the skin may redden a little. There are no limitations as such, and it’s possible to shower on the same day. However, it’s important to always dry the scabs well and not scratch them.
The recommendation is to put off visits to the solarium, sauna and swimming pool for 2-3 days, and to avoid direct sunlight for the same period as the treated area will be sensitive to it. After the scab has come off, protect the skin by applying cream with a high UV factor. Failure to do so risks pigmentation and prolongs recovery.
The result of plasma pen wart treatment
The wart is got rid off permanently, and the result is visible after about a week once the scab is gone. Any minor redness disappears 14 days following the treatment, and the skin regenerates quickly.
Possible side effects of removing larger lesions with the plasma pen:
- recovery time may be longer
- pigmentation defotmation may occur
- n rare cases, a scar may form at the removal site
When the plasma pen cannot be used
We do not remove with a plasma pen:
- brown discoloured marks
- growths on and around the genitals
- growths on the eye, near the eye
- growths on the face
- growths in the hair
Treatment is not possible in diabetic patients or oncological patients.
