Cryotherapy Treatment, Trinidad

SK!N | DERMATOLOGY SERVICES | TRINIDAD

What is Cryotherapy?

The term cryotherapy literally means ‘treatment using low temperature’ and refers to the removal of skin lesions by freezing them. The most common product used by doctors is liquid nitrogen.

What conditions can be treated with cryotherapy?

• Actinic Keratoses
• Viral Warts
• Seborrhoeic keratoses
• Bowen’s disease
• and other benign lesions

What does the procedure involve?

Cryotherapy is often carried out without any special preparation. Whilst liquid nitrogen is usually applied to the skin by using a spray gun, a metal probe or cotton bud can sometimes be used instead.
Although there is slight local pain felt, it does not normally require a local anaesthetic, and the procedure itself lasts a matter of seconds.
Depending on the nature of the lesion, more than one treatment may be necessary and this is usually repeated at regular intervals.

How is the procedure performed?

The doctor will apply liquid nitrogen on your skin to freeze the affected area. A numbing medicine may be used to prevent any pain or discomfort. The skin cells freeze, die, and then can be removed from the body. To completely treat some skin ailments, liquid nitrogen treatments may be needed every 1 to 3 weeks for a total of 2 to 4 times. If no improvement is noted, your doctor may recommend another type of treatment.

Cryotherapy Aftercare

Cryosurgeries, can be conducted on the same day. After the procedure, patients need to care for any incision wounds or places where the skin has been frozen. The doctor will provide detailed aftercare instructions. Patients may have follow-up appointments in which the doctor will determine how successful treatment was, if there are any complications and whether further treatment of the affected area is required.