CryoPen Treatment Near Me

CryoPen can be used to treat a wide range of different, superficial skin lesions, including viral warts, skin tags, seborrhoeic keratosis, actinic keratosis and other benign lesions. We are only able to treat benign lesions and it is essential that a correct diagnosis is made before any treatment is undertaken. If we are concerned that a lesion looks suspicious, we will ask you to seek approval from your GP before proceeding with the treatment.

The Cryopen can be used on the face, scalp or body depending on the type of skin lesion. We are able to treat several areas in a single session if required.

The CryoPen emits a very fine, pressurised jet of nitrous oxide, allowing the treatment to be administered with great precision. The tissue of the lesion is broken down by freezing the inter-cellular fluid. This forms ice crystals which break the membrane of the cells and destroy the targeted tissue. The healthy tissue remains untouched.

The safety of Cryotherapy is widely acknowledged and the treatment is well established. The risk of complications when using CryoPen is lower than with many other treatments and methods. N2O is delivered directly to the area and does not affect the healthy surrounding tissue. The treatment is CE and FDA approved.

Firstly, you will be required to attend an initial consultation. This will give us an opportunity to discuss your medical history as well as assess the lesion(s). Your practitioner will then discuss the treatment with you, covering the options available and the expected outcome.

When undertaking the treatment, your practitioner will use the CryoPen to carefully target the lesions. The exact duration of the treatment depends on the nature and size of the lesion, but it generally only takes seconds to treat each one. It is common to see a frost or ice-field appear on the top of the targeted tissue during treatment. A ‘freeze-thaw-freeze’ technique is often employed, allowing the tissue to defrost for a few seconds before a second treatment applied. Although it is advisable to keep the affected area uncovered, a plaster or simple dressing may be applied if it is in an area that is likely to be exposed to rubbing or aggravation. The treatment does not require an anaesthetic.

The treatment is usually well tolerated and only causes minimal discomfort. The sensation is similar to that of a stinging nettle on the skin when the nitrous oxide reaches the bottom of the lesion, but this only lasts momentarily. There is occasionally some residual stinging after treatment which may last for a few minutes. The area may become red and sore - and occasionally a scab or blister can form. A greater degree of discomfort can be experienced following treatment if a deeper freeze is required. The treatment compares very favourably with traditional Cryotherapy, which can typically be more painful.

Healing takes between one and six weeks after treatment, depending on the depth and size of the lesion. Lesions usually take on a darker colour (due to the dead cells) but this will flake away as the skin underneath regenerates. A follow-up appointment is recommended after four weeks to assess the response to the initial treatment and to assess whether a further application is needed.

The results of the treatment are permanent, though it can sometimes take more than one application to remove the lesion.

The treatment is non-invasive and relatively low risk. As the skin heals the area may develop some pigment change, either darker (hyper-pigmentation) or lighter (hypo-pigmentation). Loss of colour can take longer to return in darker pigmented skin. The appearance of the skin will generally improve after a few months, though can sometimes last longer. If you do experience pigment change, we recommend booking a review appointment so that we can advise you accordingly.

Freezing can irritate some of the small nerves in the skin and lead to numbness, tingling or hypersensitivity. These symptoms will usually improve in time.

In the days directly after treatment, a scab may form and the lesion may become red and inflamed. This should resolve after one to six weeks with the area returning to normal, though a small area of scarring or change in the colour of the skin is possible. It is important not to pick at any scab as this can lead to scarring. Lesions on the legs can take slightly longer to heal.