What is Cryotherapy?
What is Cryotherapy?
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Cryotherapy is a safe and highly effective method used to freeze and remove benign skin lesions. It uses extremely cold liquid nitrous oxide to freeze the inter-cellular fluid, forming ice crystals which rupture the cell membrane quickly, destroying the targeted tissue and allowing the surrounding healthy tissue to remain untouched due to pinpoint precision. Emma carries out the treatment with the CryoPen™which is the most medically advanced, non-surgical procedure on the market. The CryoPen™ is both FDA and CE approved.
What does the CryoPen™ treat?
What does the CryoPen™ treat?
The CryoPen™ can treat benign skin lesions such as:
Warts
Skin Tags
Solar Lentigines (age, sun & liver spots)
Verruca's
Seborrheic Keratosis
Skin Pigmentation
Is the CryoPen™ treatment painful?
Is the CryoPen™ treatment painful?
The treatment is usually tolerated well by clients, with minimal discomfort. The sensation is similar to a stinging on the skin when the nitrous oxide reaches the bottom of the lesion, however this sensation quickly disappears once the treatment is over. Sometimes client experience residual stinging which can last for a few minutes after the treatment.
After the treatment, the lesion may be red and sore. Sometimes a blister may form. If the lesion being treated is larger then there may be a more intense stinging following treatment due to the CryoPen™ penetrating the lesion deeper in to the skin.
What should I expect after the CryoPen™ treatment?
What should I expect after the CryoPen™ treatment?
Individual lesions can respond in different ways to treatment. Some lesions may become red and angry looking with a scab forming on them. This usually resolves after a few weeks and the area will return to normal, however there is a chance of a small scar/change in pigmentation to the skin. Avoiding picking the scab reduces the likelihood of this happening.
The treatment area may appear darker afterwards. When scabs/crusting occur they can take between 10-30 days to fall off. If the treatment area is below the neck then this can take longer. It can take the skin up to 3 months to totally heal.
A 4 week review is booked which can be virtual to discuss whether or not the desired result has been achieved. Some lesions may need more than one treatment which will be offered at a discounted price.
It is totally normal to experience some residual swelling in the hours following treatment. After this, it is likely that the area will be red, swollen, sore and a blister may develop. If a blister forms try to avoid popping it and keep the area clean to reduce the risk of infection. As the wound heals, the lesion will dry and turn darker.
What aftercare should I follow?
What aftercare should I follow?
To get the best results it is essential that you follow the aftercare provided to you. This includes:
48-72 hours after treatment:
Avoid sun exposure & heat treatments (sunbeds, sauna, steam)
Don't take hot baths/showers
Avoid applying make up in the treatment area
Do not touch the treatment area
Avoid the application of perfumed products, soap & heavy moisturisers to the treatment area.
Apply aloe vera as required for 72 hours and thereafter if the area is still sensitive. (Keep aloe vera in the fridge for a nice cooling effect)
To clean the area use clean hands to gently cleanse around the area and pat dry with a clean towel/tissue.
Apply SPF 30+ to the area if it is exposed to sunlight, regardless of the weather.
How long will it take to see results?
How long will it take to see results?
It can take a few weeks to see results, however this varies between individuals and the sizes of lesions being treated. Skin tags may fall off after 1-4 weeks. Some deeper/larger lesions may require more than one treatment.
Would anything impact my suitability for treatment?
Would anything impact my suitability for treatment?
Unfortunately, not everyone is suitable for CryoPen treatments. The following factors would make you unsuitable for treatment:
Impaired sensation/circulation
Hypersensitivity to cold
Prone to Keloid Scarring
Open wound in the treatment area
Skin Cancer in the treatment area
Recent scar tissue in the treatment area
Raynaud disease (for treatment on fingers)
Are there any side effects?
Are there any side effects?
The CryoPen treatment is relatively low risk and side effects are usually minimal. Some of the side effects that could occur after treatment include:
Pigment changes (hypo/hyperpigmentation) - lightening/darkening of the skin can last a couple of months or longer.
Nerve damage - this is rare but possible in areas where the nerves are close to the skin (fingers, wrists, behind ears). Research suggests that symptoms are absent after a few months.
Shards of Ice - due to the high pressure jet of nitrous oxide that the cryopen emits, shards of ice can be thrown in to the air and travel up to 30 cm. These shards will thaw quickly and not damage healthy skin.
Damage to hair folicles in the treatment area. Hair follicles are easily damaged by cryotherapy and may not regrow after treatment.
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