[Survey on Senile Warts] 78.3% of People Over 40 Worry About Warts on Face and Neck | A Comprehensive Cost Comparison: Liquid Nitrogen vs. CO2 Laser Treatment

[Conclusion] Key Points of This Survey

To conclude, for the treatment of senile warts (seborrheic keratosis), insurance-covered liquid nitrogen therapy (approx. 1,000 yen per session) is suitable for those who want to keep costs down. For those who do not want to leave scars and wish to reliably remove them in a single session, out-of-pocket CO2 laser treatment (5,000 to 15,000 yen per wart) is appropriate. Both treatments are highly safe. Although senile warts are benign tumors that will not become malignant if left untreated, many patients request removal due to cosmetic concerns or bleeding from snagging.

- 78.3% of people over 40 feel troubled by senile warts on their face, neck, and hands.
- 63.7% of those with treatment experience chose liquid nitrogen therapy, requiring an average of 3.2 visits.
- 89.5% of those who chose CO2 laser treatment responded that they were satisfied with the results.

Glossary

■ What is a Senile Wart (Seborrheic Keratosis)?
A senile wart (seborrheic keratosis) is a benign tumor that develops on the skin with age. Caused by the accumulation of ultraviolet rays and skin aging, they begin to appear in the late 30s and are observed in almost everyone in their 80s. Colors range from skin color to brown and black, characterized by a rough surface. Although they do not become malignant, many patients wish to have them removed due to appearance and snagging issues.

■ What is Liquid Nitrogen Therapy (Cryotherapy)?
Liquid nitrogen therapy is a treatment method in which liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees Celsius is sprayed or applied with a cotton swab to the skin lesion, freezing it to necrosis for removal. Although it is inexpensive and covered by insurance, it requires multiple hospital visits and may leave pigmentation.

■ What is a CO2 Laser (Carbon Dioxide Laser)?
A CO2 laser is a treatment that uses an infrared laser with a wavelength of 10,600 nm to evaporate and remove skin tissue. Because there is less bleeding and damage to surrounding tissue is minimized, it is less likely to leave a scar. Although it is an out-of-pocket treatment, its advantage is that it can be removed in a single treatment.

Comparison Between Liquid Nitrogen Therapy and CO2 Laser

Comparison Items | Liquid Nitrogen Therapy | CO2 Laser

Insurance Coverage | Covered | Out-of-pocket
Cost Estimate (per wart) | Approx. 1,000 yen (30% copay) | 5,000 to 15,000 yen
Required Number of Sessions | 2 to 5 times (Average 3.2 times) | 1 time
Downtime | 1 to 2 weeks (blisters/scabs) | 7 to 14 days (scabs)
Pain | Prickling pain during freezing | Mild with local anesthesia
Pigmentation Risk | Somewhat high (10-30%) | Low (5-10%)
Suitability for Large Warts | Multiple sessions required | Can be treated in 1 session
Scarring | Pigmentation may remain | Almost none

*These figures are based on the results of more than 30,000 skin tumor surgeries performed by the supervising physician at our clinic. Individual differences apply.

Icy Clinic (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and Omiya branches), operated by the medical corporation Tekketsukai, conducted an "Awareness Survey on Senile Warts (Seborrheic Keratosis)" targeting 300 men and women in their 40s and older. Senile warts, which increase with age, are a skin condition where differentiation from malignant tumors is important, in addition to cosmetic concerns. This survey clarified the criteria for selecting treatment methods, patients' anxieties, and post-treatment satisfaction.

Survey Background
Senile warts (seborrheic keratosis) are the most common benign skin tumors, found in almost everyone in their 80s. In recent years, due to rising aesthetic awareness, an increasing number of patients wish to remove senile warts on exposed areas such as the face and neck. On the other hand, many people have questions such as "Can it be treated with insurance coverage?", "Which is better, liquid nitrogen or laser?", and "Can I remove it at home?", prompting this survey to provide accurate information.

Survey Overview
Target: Men and women in their 40s to 70s nationwide who have senile warts (seborrheic keratosis) on their face, neck, hands, etc., or who have considered removal treatment.
Survey Period: May 11 - May 20, 2026
Survey Method: Internet survey
Number of Respondents: 300

Survey Results
[Survey Result] 78.3% of people over 40 are troubled by senile warts.
Question: To what extent are you troubled by having senile warts (seborrheic keratosis)?
It was found that about 80% of people feel some sort of trouble regarding senile warts. Especially when they are on exposed areas like the face or neck, there are strong concerns about appearance, such as "looking older" or "worrying about looking unclean."

[Survey Result] Only 41.3% are aware of insurance-covered liquid nitrogen therapy.
Question: How much do you know about treatment methods for senile warts?
It became clear that over 30% of people did not even know that there was a treatment for senile warts. Awareness that it can be treated with insurance coverage is also low, suggesting that many people may have given up on treatment due to a lack of information.

[Survey Result] 63.7% of those with treatment experience chose liquid nitrogen therapy.
Question: For those who have experienced treatment for senile warts, which treatment method did you choose?