Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a minimally invasive and effective method for treating benign, premalignant and malignant skin lesions using liquid nitrogen to achieve extremely low temperatures.
When is cryotherapy used?
Cryotherapy is most commonly used for:
- skin warts removal (hands, feet and other body parts)
- keratoses treatment (including seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses and other forms of hyperkeratosis
Low temperatures cause cell freezing, leading to the destruction of damaged cells, which then die off and shed over time. During cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen is applied directly to the skin lesion for a few seconds (depending on the lesion).
A quick and minimally invasive procedure
Cryotherapy offers numerous advantages as it is a fast, simple and minimally invasive procedure that enables the selective destruction of damaged skin cells without harming healthy tissue. In addition to being highly effective, cryotherapy causes minimal discomfort to patients. It also has anti-inflammatory effects, reducing swelling and inflammation in the treated area.
What does the procedure look like?
The first step is a dermatological examination to determine the purpose of the cryotherapy and to choose the appropriate technique and temperature for application. The procedure itself is relatively short, depending on the type of therapy and the treated area.
What are the indications for cryotherapy ?
- Actinic keratoses (precancerous lesions, the initial stage in the development of squamous cell carcinoma)
- Viral warts
- Seborrheic warts
- Age spots