cryotherapy
(liquid nitrogen treatment)
Cryosurgery uses LN2 to destroy benign, premalignant and some malignant skin lesions. It is a common treatment option because of its ease of use and effectiveness.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Following cryotherapy patients will notice mild swelling and redness. A mild throbbing pain may last for a few hours and often peaks several hours after the procedure. A small blister may appear a few hours after treatment. The blister will evolve into a scab within a few days and the scab will fall off after 1-2 weeks. The treated area may stay red for a few weeks and might have temporary or permanent discoloration. The lesion should be kept covered for 8-12 hours after the procedure. Gentle cleansing with mild soap and water is recommended. Vaseline or antibiotic ointment (mupiricin) should be applied regularly.
Q: I’ve recently been treated with cryotherapy. How do I care for the area?
A: In some cases, a blister may form at the treatment site. A bandage may be used to cover the blister and prevent further trauma. Keep the area covered with Vaseline (petroleum jelly) until it eventually peels or flakes off, revealing new, pink skin.
During your visit today Cryotherapy was used to treat:
Actinic Keratosis (AK)
An actinic keratosis (AK) is a small, rough spot occurring on skin that has been chroni-cally exposed to the sun. They are usually pink or reddish in color, with a rough texture and often have a white or yellowish scale on top. If left untreated, there is some small risk that these lesions may develop into a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.
Seborrheic Keratosis (SK)
Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a common skin growth. It may look worrisome, but it is benign (not cancer). These growths often appear in middle-aged and older adults. Some people get just one. It is, however, more common to have many. They are not contagious. Most often seborrheic keratoses start as small, rough bumps. Then slowly they thicken and get a warty surface. They range in color from white to black. Most are tan or brown. Occasionally, these lesions are treated with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) to keep them from recurring after the initial biopsy.
Warts (verruca vulgaris)
Warts are benign (not cancerous) skin growths that appear when a virus infects the top layer of the skin. Viruses that cause warts are called human papillomavirus (HPV). You are more likely to get one of these viruses if you cut or damage your skin in some way. They can appear on any body site but are more commonly found on the hands and feet.