Cryotherapy refers to the use of extreme cold to freeze/ remove abnormal/ unhealthy tissue.
It is a quick, in-clinic treatment.
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy
What skin conditions can be treated with cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is most commonly used to remove viral warts and corns.
It can also be used to treat superficial benign skin growths such as seborrhoeic keratosis and solar keratosis. It is also a treatment option for precancerous skin conditions such as Bowen’s disease, as well as superficial basal cell cancers.
What can I expect during a cryotherapy session?
Cryotherapy involves the application of liquid nitrogen to the skin lesion. The liquid nitrogen may be applied from a spray canister or from a cotton stick. As liquid nitrogen is very cold, the treatment is mildly uncomfortable but the discomfort lasts for only a few seconds.
The treatment may need to be repeated again after a rest of 2 weeks. To remove a large, thick viral wart, 3-4 cryotherapy sessions may be needed.
What can I expect after a cryotherapy session?
The treated area may appear slightly red on the day of the treatment.
The treated area often develops into a scab after a few days and this will peel off.
Rarely, blisters may occur.