Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy freezes off skin lesions and growths with an extremely cold liquid or solution (usually liquid nitrogen). This treatment works by blistering the skin where the lesion is located. A scab forms over the blister, and it falls off in the 2 to 4 weeks following the procedure, revealing new, healthy skin underneath.

Cryotherapy is used to treat and address several different skin lesions, including skin growths and patches. This may include skin conditions such as:

• Actinic keratoses
• Seborrhoeic keratoses
• Superficial basal cell carcinomas
• Superficial squamous cell carcinoma
• Warts
• Moles
• Skin tags

To learn whether or not cryotherapy can be used as a treatment method for a specific skin lesion or condition you may have, get in touch with our team of board-certified dermatologists today. We’re happy to answer any questions about cryotherapy!

Cryotherapy is used to treat superficial skin cancers confined to the top layer of skin and have not spread to other areas of the body. Cryotherapy is often used to treat actinic keratosis, which is a precancerous skin condition, as well as superficial basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Furthermore, it’s important to understand that cryotherapy is not ideal for skin cancers or precancerous skin lesions in cosmetically sensitive areas, such as the face or neck.

There’s a slight risk for burns with cryotherapy and cryosurgery. However, the risk can be mitigated by visiting a board-certified dermatologist who has experience administering this type of skin lesion and skin cancer treatment.

The cost of cryotherapy and cryosurgery depends on the amount of treatment needed to fully treat or address the afflicted area. For instance, the treatment will cost more when treating many actinic keratoses compared to removing a small mole or skin lesion.

Cryotherapy aftercare is rather easy and straightforward – treat the skin with kindness, don’t pick at any blisters or scabs, clean the area with soap and water as you normally would, dry the area carefully after bathing, apply a thin layer of an antibiotic ointment or moisturizer to the area daily, and cover with a bandage if irritation occurs.