Cryotherapy is an innovative freezing treatment that can be used to effectively treat a wide-ranging number of skin lesions.
Lesions on the skin come in all shapes, colours and sizes. Some are easily identified, like moles or warts, while others may be less noticeable growths or tags. Most of these lesions are harmless; however, you may feel self-conscious about their appearance or find them irritating if they catch on clothing.
Using the controlled application of liquid nitrogen to the targeted area, cryotherapy is capable of producing remarkable results in ridding the skin of unsightly blemishes. Cryotherapy treatment London can even be used for certain types of skin cancer.
What to expect?
During cryotherapy, the dermatologist will apply a freezing agent to the skin lesion. The area will become numb and you may feel a stinging sensation as the area is frozen. The freezing process only takes a few minutes and is usually well tolerated.
After the treatment, the area may remain numb for up to an hour. You may also see a blister form at the treatment site. This is normal and will eventually heal on its own. The treated area will take on a white or yellow appearance and will scab over within a week. The scab will eventually fall off, revealing new, healthy skin beneath.
Treatment may alter the texture and colour of the skin. For this reason, cryotherapy should be used with caution in patients with darker skin, particularly on exposed areas such as the face, due to the risk of depigmentation.
What does the treatment do?
Cryotherapy damages the abnormal cells within skin lesions, killing them off and allowing the growth of new, healthier skin cells. The freezing only takes between 5 and 30 seconds, depending on the concern being targeted by treatment. Cryotherapy is most commonly used in the treatment of warts, acne, scarring, and irregular skin growths.
At Dermasurge, all cryotherapy treatments in London are performed by Dr Hiba Injibar, our founder. As a skilled consultant dermatologist, Dr Hiba is highly experienced at diagnosing most skin concerns, and administering cryotherapy where appropriate in-house at our Harley Street clinic.
Just how cold is cryotherapy?
The cryotherapy spray gun lowers the skin temperature to minus 100C for five to 15 seconds. The burning pain may last up to a minute as the skin thaws. Adults can usually tolerate the procedure well
What skin conditions can cryotherapy treat?
It can be used for any superficial skin lesion that involves mainly the epidermis. This includes benign lesions such as seborrhoeic warts (a benign growth consisting of a build-up of cells), contagious lesions such as viral warts or molluscum contagiosum, and precancerous lesions such as solar keratoses or Bowen’s disease.
It can be utilized on any type of epidermal lesion that mostly affects the top layer of skin. Benign lesions include seborrhoeic warts (a benign growth made up of a build-up of cells), contagious conditions such as viral warts or molluscum contagiosum, and precancerous lesions such as solar keratoses or Bowen’s disease.
All patients must undergo a consultation with Dr Hiba before receiving treatment, in order to fully assess the skin and ensure cryotherapy is the correct course of action for achieving the best results
Is cryotherapy painful?
Most people report only minor discomfort during cryotherapy. The freezing process can cause a stinging or burning sensation, but this typically subsides within a few minutes.
What is the recovery time for cryotherapy?
The recovery time for cryotherapy is usually short. Most people can return to their normal activities immediately after treatment.
What are the benefits of cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a safe and effective way to remove skin lesions with minimal risk of scarring or other complications. It is also a quick and easy procedure that can be done in the doctor’s office with little to no downtime.
What are the risks of cryotherapy?
As with any medical procedure, there are some potential risks associated with cryotherapy. These include:
– Pain or discomfort during the procedure
– Swelling, redness and bruising around the treatment site
– Infection at the treatment site
– Changes in skin colour around the treatment site
– Scarring
– Allergic reaction to the freezing agent (this is rare)
You should discuss any concerns you have about cryotherapy with your dermatologist prior to the procedure.
Will I need more than one cryotherapy treatment?
The number of treatments needed depends on the condition being treated. Some skin conditions may clear up after a single treatment, while others may require multiple treatments.
If you have any further questions about cryotherapy, please get in touch and schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Patients should expect to feel some level of discomfort, as cryotherapy exposes the skin to extreme cold temperatures. However, this is over extremely brief periods of time, and no extreme pain should be felt.
Patients may notice inflammation, swelling, redness, blisters, scabbing or weeping in the treatment area for a few days after the procedure, though this should not take too long to subside. For patients with naturally pigmented skin, they may notice a slight change in colour in the skin of the treatment area compared to the surrounding skin.
There are a number of contraindications to cryotherapy, including pregnancy, hypertension, arrhythmia, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, venous thrombosis, and Raynauld’s Syndrome to name a few. During your consultation, Dr Injibar will question you about your medical history to determine that cryotherapy is safe for you and recommend alternative treatments if needed.
In most cases, only one cryotherapy treatment is needed. However, in the case of some lesions, warts in particular, multiple sessions may be needed to prevent regrowth.
Patient Reviews
“Dr Hiba is fantastic, right from my first consultation she put me at ease and was helpful when suggesting treatment for my skin concerns. The results are amazing and I would highly recommend!”
“I got the results which were promised. Dr Hiba is very professional and knowledgeable.”
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