Controlled destruction of unwanted tissue by the precision application of extreme cold from nitrous oxide

Only freezes to a certain point so no collateral damage

Necrosis takes place at -27 degrees centigrade

Body temperature +37C = -27c - +37c = -64C is the least we need to go to have an effect.

Nitrous oxide works at -89C without causing damage

No pain

No surrounding damage

GP now do not do it

Alternatives – liquid nitrogen – less accurate and painful

Although cryotherapy is a relatively low-risk procedure, some side effects may occur as a result of the treatment.

Common side effects that will happen:

* Scabs: Most lesions will scab as Necrosis takes place, this is normal and tell the client to let it heal naturally and not pick it

* Blisters: These may appear on the treated area but usually disappear after a few hours. Tell the client not to burst it and let it go down to form the scab. This will lengthen healing time.

* Pigment Changes: Skin I-III post inflammatory pigmentation tend to be pink and in skins IV – VI it will be darker. This can last up to six months and with some clients it could the pigmentation may be permanent. Both hypo (lightening of the skin) and hyper (darkening of the skin) pigmentation. Can last a few months or longer. Skin types V-IV you can do a patch test for the client to see skins reaction.

* Headaches: When freezing on the forehead, scalp and temples. Can last for 2 hours.

* Nerve Damage: Although rare, damage to nerves is possible especially where the nerves are close to the skin surface (fingers, wrist, behind the ear). Reports suggest that symptoms disappear after several months.

* Shards of Ice: The CryoPen delivers a high pressure jet of nitrous oxide. This jet can cause shards of ice to be thrown into the air to a distance of up to 30cm. They will thaw quickly and will not damage healthy skin. If these shards get in the eyes it could damage them so protecting the eyes is paramount. Use laser google, cotton wool or micropore tape.

* Damage to hair follicles: Hair follicles are easily damaged by cryosurgery and permanent alopecia to the treated area is not uncommon.

While there is very little aftercare required, there are a few things you should be aware of.

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Blisters: Blistering can happen with any cryotherapy treatment and is indiscriminate. The Cryopen is the most effective way of avoiding blisters as we are only treating the affected area and not healthy tissue. If a blister does appear, please don’t pop it. It will go down on its own. If it pops, weeping may occur. If so use a smear of Savlon or Germolene cream twice a day. An adhesive dressing such as a plaster can be used to cover the area to protect it.

Skin Tags: These turn black at the base and drop off over a period of one to six weeks. Larger skin tags of 3mm+ may need a second freeze. Please contact us after six weeks if they need to be retreated.  If the area does become tender you can use Savlon or Germolene twice a day. A plaster can be used to cover the area to stop the treated area being irritated by clothing rubbing on it.

Warts and Verrucae: It is recommended if they are still there, warts and verrucae should be re-treated 4 weeks after your first treatment. There is no aftercare apart from if the treated area develops a blister.

Milia: These are superficial keratin filled epidermal cysts and normally flatten and disappear with Cryotherapy quite quickly. There is no need to do anything other than follow the blister advice if one appears.

Pigmentation and cherry Angiomas: The treated area may raise and look like a bee-sting. Do not worry this is perfectly normal. The redness will subside in a few hours.

Diabetic Clients: Due to slower healing double the time between treatments

In the case of all lesions, over the next 24 hours the area will go darker and develop a crust on the surface. Do not pick this off. When it naturally falls away you will see new skin which is a shiny pink colour.  This is not scarring. It will re pigment over the following weeks and could take several months.

* The histamine in the area which was treated will create an itchy sensation for between ten and sixty minutes, do not worry this is perfectly normal.

* Do not pick the treated area at any time after treatment otherwise the area will take longer to heal.  If a wheel/scab is knocked off accidentally it will also take longer to heal, but you should still have the same outcome of a successful treatment.

* Please use a sunblock factor 50 on any pigmentation removal until it has re-pigmented, this may take up to eight weeks.

* You can continue to use make up, deodorant or perfumes on treated areas but try and leave for as long as you can on the day of treatment.

* If the small crust has not fallen off after four weeks please wait until it has done so before contacting the clinic. Skin sometimes takes several weeks and even months to regenerate.

* If the skin being treated is tanned please remember the healing skin will no longer be tanned. It will eventually re-pigment as it matures.

* Permanent alopecia can occur in a treated area which is usually covered with hair.

* Treatments that do not heal after six weeks should be reviewed by your doctor or dermatologist. Please contact us to tell us if this happens

* Impaired sensation or circulation

* Open wound (treatment area)

* Skin Cancer (treatment area)

* Hypersensitivity to cold

* Recent scar tissue (treatment area)

* Raynaud disease (for digit cryotherapy)

* Cardiac disease

* Moles without a doctors letter