Cryotherapy

What is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy uses extremely cold liquid nitrogen to destroy abnormal or precancerous skin cells. It is an excellent technique for dealing with a variety of benign lesions as well as some small scale basal cell carcinoma.

Usually utilising liquid nitrogen as the ‘cryogen’ (the freezing substance), the problem lesions will be subject to extreme cold. This destroys the skin tissue and stimulates the immune system – and in combination, these processes will help to clear the lesion and give you some medical peace of mind.

Cryotherapy at Skin Institute involves the following:

• Freezing skin lesions
• Extreme cold destroying skin tissue
• Stimulating the immune system
• End result should be a cleared lesion

Conditions as varied as pre-cancers (solar or actinic keratosis and Bowen’s disease), warts, seborrhoeic keratosis and some superficial skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma) can be safely and effectively treated with our cryotherapy technique. With our years of experience, you know you’ll be receiving the best treatment possible.

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When it’s recommended

Cryotherapy is recommended when patients have:

• Actinic keratoses (sun-induced precancerous lesions)
• Solar keratoses on the face, scalp, arms, or hands
• Small superficial skin cancers
• Raised benign lesions requiring removal

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What to expect

Before treatment

While liquid nitrogen is our usual cryogen, other substances may be employed in appropriate circumstances. Your clinician will discuss the best option for you.

During

• You may feel a cold, stinging sensation lasting several seconds.
• Treatment is quick, often completed in minutes.

After

• The area may blister or scab before healing.
• Healing usually occurs within 1–3 weeks depending on the location.
• You can return to normal activities immediately.

While rigorously tested and very safe, there are always potentially complications, including scarring, infection or hypopigmentation (whitening) of the area we have treated. In some instances, the lesion may recur – in which case, further treatment will be required, either additional cryotherapy or one of our other treatment options.

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Cost

To be quoted by provider

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FAQ

Will the lesion come back?

Cryotherapy is effective, but sun damage may cause new lesions to develop.

Does cryotherapy hurt?

Most people experience a brief stinging sensation.