A study was performed to assess the value of a topical corticosteroid after cryotherapy of hand warts. The study group comprised 25 patients who had a pair of warts suitable for comparison. The warts were treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy using a standardized method. Clobetasol propionate was applied to one of each pair of warts and placebo to the other under double-blind conditions. Using a visual analogue scale the patients recorded the severity of pain, duration of pain and the severity of blistering in each lesion. Analysis of the results showed no significant difference between lesions treated with corticosteroid and those treated with placebo. We conclude that a single appb'cation of clobetasol propionate is ineffective in relieving symptoms after cryotherapy of hand warts.