Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment that freezes skin surface lesions using extremely cold liquid or instruments. Cryotherapy, also known as cryosurgery or cryoablation, can be delivered with various cryogens. Liquid Nitrogen is the most common and effective cryogen for clinical use.

 

What Is Cryotherapy Used For?

Benign lesions that may be treated by cryotherapy include:

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• Actinic keratoses

• Seborrhoeic keratoses

• Viral warts

• Molluscum contagiosum

• Skin tags

 

How Does Cryotherapy Work?

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. The process may be repeated once the skin has thawed.

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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).

 

Before Treatment

A local anaesthetic either using  cream or injection can be applied to the area if needed. A medical consultation will determine if the skin lesion is appropriate to be removed.

 

Looking After the Treated Area

Full aftercare advice will be provided.

Aim 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, although scarring and changes in skin colour are possible, and rarely ulceration (broken down areas of skin), particularly on the lower legs.

The treated area is likely to blister within a few hours, depending on the depth and duration of the freeze. It may contain clear fluid or blood (this is harmless).

Treatment near the eye may result in a puffy eyelid, especially the following morning, but the swelling settles within a few days. A scab will then form and the blister gradually dries up. 

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Cryotherapy Prices

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Prices start from £50 for one lesion 
Please contact me for details if treatment is for multiple lesions