Cryotherapy at D2 Medical Expert Medical Doctor Led Service
Cryotherapy, which literally means ‘cold therapy’, is a non-surgical technique that employs liquid nitrogen to remove skin lesions by freezing the skin cells until they die and fall off.
The freezing treatment normally involves 5-10 seconds of the liquid spray being applied locally to the target area, with a break between treatment cycles. The duration and number of treatment cycles depend on the skin type and the nature of the problem.
Over the days following treatment, a scab will form which will take a couple of weeks to fall off – this process cannot be hurried. Depending on the response of the tissue treated, follow up sessions may be required.
What skin conditions can Cryotherapy treat?
Cryotherapy can be used to treat a wide variety of superficial benign lesions.
However, it is best suited for treating the following conditions.
- Viral Warts
- Actinic Keratosis
- Seborrheic Keratosis
- Bowen’s Disease
- Basal Cell Carcinomas
- Viral Warts
- Actinic Keratosis
A viral wart is a common skin growth caused by an infection with HPV (human papillomavirus). These are very common in school-aged children, people with suppressed immune systems and people with eczema; although they can appear at any age, on anyone. HPV is spread by direct contact with the skin or through autoinoculation.
There are several types of viral warts, including the common wart (regularly found on fingers), plantar warts (found on the sole of the foot and toes), plane warts (found on face, hands and shins), filiform warts (found on the face), and mucosal warts (found on lips and inside of cheeks).
How does Cryotherapy work?
Cryotherapy is very quick and straightforward procedure performed as an outpatient treatment and involves liquid nitrogen applied to the skin with a spray gun or cotton bud.
The procedure is very quick, depending on the thickness and size of the lesion. The frozen skin becomes white and takes one to two minutes to thaw to normal skin temperature – your doctor may suggest this is repeated once the skin has thawed out.
Over the days following treatment, a scab will form, this will take a couple of weeks to fall off – this process cannot be hurried. Depending on the response of the tissue treated, follow up sessions may be required.
What are the benefits of Cryotherapy treatment?
The benefits of treatment for Cryotherapy include:
- Quick 10-minute treatment
- Highly effective removal of skin lesions
- No scars or anaesthetic required
- Improved self confidence and self-esteem
Who will carry out my Cryotherapy treatment?
All Cryotherapy treatments at the D2 Medical Clinic are carried out by a highly trained specialist family doctors. As this is a medical treatment which needs to be performed by an expert to avoid complications.
What to expect during your Cryotherapy consultation at the D2 Medical Clinic?
Your doctor will discuss the following with you at this consultation:
- The best options for treatment for you given your skin condition, and the results that you would likely achieve with Cryotherapy treatment
- An explanation of the treatment or treatment plan
- Go through your past medical history
- Answer any questions you may have
3 Easy Steps
- Visit the Clinic at 4 Fitzwilliam Square East
- Start your treatment plan
- Return to the Clinic to see your doctor – if required – to monitor the progress of treatment
Why choose the D2 Medical Clinic for your Cryotherapy treatment?
- We remove thousands of benign skin lesions each year with Cryotherapy
- Our team of highly experienced specialist GPs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is liquid Nitrogen?
Liquid nitrogen is the liquid state of the gas nitrogen that occupies 78% of the air we breathe. Liquid nitrogen is extremely cold, having a boiling point of minus 196°cm.
It is easily stored and transported in special flasks, making it a highly effective locally applied freezing agent for medical treatments based on cold therapy.
Is Cryotherapy Painful?
Cryotherapy is usually a very well-tolerated treatment, but can sometimes cause discomfort if a deep freeze is necessary.
This discomfort can occur during and after the treatment and may require painkillers for the first 24 hours to relieve this, or, you may opt to have a local anaesthetic applied beforehand.
Are My Cryotherapy results permanent?
Yes. Once a lesion has been removed from the surface of the skin, it will not reappear.
Lesions may appear elsewhere on the skin, however
Dr John J Ryan Higher Diploma in Dermatology University College Dublin and the Mater Hospital