What is cryotherapy?

The term ‘cryotherapy’ literally means ‘treatment using low temperature’ and refers to the removal of surface skin lesions by freezing them. The most commonly used freezing agent or product is liquid nitrogen.

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What does the procedure involve?

Liquid nitrogen is usually applied to the skin by using a cryotherapy pen.

Cryotherapy does not normally require a local anaesthetic as pain is usually mild and short lived (although this does vary between individuals and according to the body site being treated). The procedure itself lasts a matter of seconds; the precise time depends on the thickness and size of the lesion. The frozen skin becomes white and takes one to two minutes to thaw back to normal skin temperature. Your practitioner  may suggest that the process might need to be repeated once the skin has thawed, if the skin lesion is a larger size.

Treatment is likely to produce a reaction similar to a burn. The skin may look red, swell, or blister. Redness may not be apparent in people with darker skin. After a few days, a scab will form, and this will take a few weeks to fall off depending on the site (occasionally a little longer, especially on the legs where healing is slow).

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How should the treated area be cared for?

the aim is to keep the treated areas dry for 24 hours. You can then wash the areas gently and pat dry with a soft towel or tissue. A petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline®) can be applied daily to help the area heal and prevent crusting.

It is important NOT to pick the scab as this will encourage scarring. A dressing or plaster is not usually necessary but may be advisable if the treated area is likely to be knocked or rubbed by clothing.

In most cases, the treated area will eventually look like normal skin taking up to six weeks to completely heal, although scarring and changes in skin colour are possible, and rarely ulceration (broken down areas of skin), particularly on the lower legs.

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What Skin lesions can be treated?

- Skin tags 

- Warts

- Verruca's 

- Milia's 

- Sun damage 

- Age spots

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