How effective is cryotherapy for plantar warts?

Plantar warts develop on the sole or toes and may feel tender when walking because body weight presses on them. Cryotherapy freezes the wart and a margin of surrounding tissue. A blister or sore area can follow, and the treated spot may hurt for a short period. The hard surface layer can make the wart challenging to reach fully, so a clinician may discuss more than one session or another approach. A dark dot or interrupted skin lines can help distinguish a wart, but a professional examination is needed when the diagnosis is unclear.

Book an assessment before freezing a painful sole lesion, especially if you have diabetes, reduced sensation, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system. Follow the wound-care instructions and use clean, protective footwear while the area is tender. Do not cut, burn, or aggressively file the wart yourself. Keep feet dry, avoid picking, and do not share socks, towels, or nail tools. Ask when walking, exercise, and swimming can safely resume.

Get medical advice if the treated area becomes increasingly painful, hot, swollen, or drains pus, or if redness spreads. Prompt assessment is appropriate for bleeding that does not settle, a rapidly changing lesion, or a sore that does not heal. Return for review if walking remains difficult or the wart persists after the planned treatment course.

Is this definitely a plantar wart rather than a corn or another lesion? How deep or thick is it? What pain relief and dressing should I use, and which treatment is suitable if freezing does not clear it?