Cryotherapy

We offer consultations to allow you the opportunity to meet with our qualified experts to discuss your area of concern and the treatment you are considering. You will be advised how the treatment works, the cost and what you can expect during the treatment and post treatment. Any possible risks involved will also be explained so that you can make an informed decision as to whether the treatment is right for you.

Your suitability for the treatment will also be assessed and honest advice will be offered where it is professionally believed that you may not be a candidate for that treatment or perhaps where an alternative treatment may be better suited.

The applicator is held as close as possible to the skin imperfection and moved quickly towards and away from it. This could be from 1-30 seconds, depending on the size and depth of the lesion. The CryoPen™ freezes at a rate of approximately 1mm per 5 seconds.

There will be a mild sensation similar to a stinging nettle on the skin at first. There might be a little residual stinging for a few minutes after treatment and the area can be slightly itchy for about 10 minutes after the procedure. Most patients get an anaesthetic effect from the extreme freezing temperatures.

During the procedure, the area freezes and turns white. After this white area thaws, a flushing occurs and the area will turn red and a weal will form. After 2-24 hours after being frozen the weal may turn into a blister which may take several days to dissolve, however this is very rare. A crust will form over the lesion, which typically, after about 10 to 14 days, will fall off and the skin will then be healed. The skin may appear lighter in colour or pink, which then returns to its normal colour over a period of a few weeks. Lesions treated on the legs often take a little more time to heal.

For larger and deeper lesions a second crust may form making the healing time slightly longer.

Although it is best to try to leave the treated area uncovered, a plaster or simple dressing may be applied if it is in an area which may lead to rubbing and aggravation. It is important not to pick at the crust as this may lead to scarring.

Blisters

Blistering can happen with any cryotherapy treatment and is indiscriminate. The Cryopen is the most effective way of avoiding blisters as we are only treating the affected area and not healthy tissue.

If a blister does appear, please don’t pop it. It will go down on its own. If it pops, weeping may occur. If so use a smear of Savlon or Germolene cream twice a day. An adhesive dressing such as a plaster can be used to cover the area to protect it.

Skin Tags

These turn black at the base and drop off over a period of one to six weeks. Larger skin tags of 3mm+ may need a second freeze. Please contact us after six weeks if they need to be retreated. If the area does become tender you can use use Savlon or Germolene twice a day. A plaster can be used to cover the area to stop the treated area being irritated by clothing rubbing on it.

Warts and Verrucae

It is recommended if they are still there, warts and verrucae should be re-treated 4 weeks after your first treatment. There is no aftercare apart from if the treated area develops a blister.

Milia

These are superficial keratin filled epidermal cysts and normally flatten and disappear with Cryotherapy quite quickly. There is no need to do anything other than follow the blister advice if one appears.

Pigmentation and Cherry Angiomas

The treated area may raise and look like a bee-sting. Do not worry this is perfectly normal. The redness will subside in a few hours.

General advice for all skin lesions

In the case of all lesions, over the next 24 hours the area will go darker and develop a crust on the surface. Do not pick this off. When it naturally falls away you will see new skin which is a shiny pink colour. This is not scarring. It will re pigment over the following weeks and could take several months.

The histamine in the area which was treated will create an itchy sensation for between ten and sixty minutes, do not worry this is perfectly normal.

Do not pick the treated area at any time after treatment otherwise the area will take longer to heal. If a wheel/scab is knocked off accidentally it will also take longer to heal, but you should still have the same outcome of a successful treatment.