What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy treatment refers to the removal of skin lesions using freezing liquid nitrogen.
Cryotherapy is a non-surgical technique that utilises freezing temperatures to treat a variety of skin lesions. It works by applying extreme cold, using nitrous oxide, directly to the target area, causing the abnormal cells to freeze, crystallise, and ultimately die. At Bedeque Medical Clinic we use the CryoPen system which is an advanced cryotherapy innovation providing a safe, convenient and quick treatment for the removal of skin lesions.
How does cryotherapy work?
The Cryopen emits a small jet of nitrous oxide under high pressure, allowing the Clinician to work within a millimetre precision. This causes the targeted cells to undergo cryonecrosis (a controlled cell death) by freezing the intracellular fluid, forming ice shards and crystals which rupture the membrane, destroying the cell.
Applications of cryotherapy
Cryotherapy has a wide range of medical and cosmetic applications, particularly in the field of dermatology.
Removal of benign skin growths (e.g., warts, skin tags, moles)
Treatment of precancerous lesions (e.g., actinic keratosis)
Improvement of cosmetic concerns (e.g., age spots)
Management of certain types of skin cancer
Overall, cryotherapy is a safe and effective option for addressing a variety of skin abnormalities, providing patients with a convenient and often less expensive alternative to more invasive treatments. Additionally, benign lesions such as skin tags, milia and cherry angiomas are no longer being treated on the NHS.
