Cryotherapy

To help remove cherry angiomas, skin tags, moles and many other skin lesions

Sometimes, our body doesn’t quite work how we expect it to and abnormal cells can develop (known as skin lesions) such as moles and skin tags.

Cryotherapy using the Cryopen® is the best way to remove the majority of skin lesions including, but not limited to skin tags and seborrhoeic keratosis and is a minimally invasive and relatively comfortable treatment involving the rapid cooling of targeted cells using nitrous oxide, resulting in the careful destruction of skin lesions.

Due to how cryotherapy works, cells can be specifically targeted without causing any damage to the surrounding cells, which means that skin tags, moles and cherry angiomas on areas such as the face can be removed with very little risk to its surrounding tissues.

Once treated, cryotherapy can result in a similar reaction to a burn which may blister and heal within a week or two, during which time, the cells of skin lesion are dealt with by the body and are expelled from the skin.

Watch our introduction to cryotherapy by clicking here

Case Study

When E found out we were going to start freezing skin lesions she jumped on the opportunity to have her mole removed that was placed on the right side of her temple. She found that whenever she looked back at pictures, it was all she looked

Unfortunately, she’d tried covering it with make up and she found it just made things worse and so she came to us to have it removed. When seeing her on her follow up appointment, she couldn't stop smiling and told us she'd had great pleasure sharing her selfies without having to edit anything!

Why Come To Us For Treatment?

We are a 5 star recommended skin clinic and are well known for working with our patients and not on the them. We pride ourselves on educating our patients rather than selling to them and never over promising the results of a treatment.

As healthcare professionals we will always put your health first and if we are not sure on the status of a skin lesion, we will refer you back to your GP who can investigate further on our behalf. In the case of moles, due to the potential risk of cancer, we will request that you have a letter from your GP to confirm the beginning nature of the lesion

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In a Nutshell

What does it treat?
Abnormal cell growth such as skin tags and moles

How long does it take?
About 2 minutes

Will I get numbed?
No, the treatment is virtually painless

How long will it take to recover?
1-2 weeks

When can I go back to work?
Immediately

How long before I see a result?
Normally after about a week the lesion will drop off but it may take a few weeks for the skin underneath to fully settle.

How risky is it?
Mild risk

Frequently Asked Questions

How Is Cryotheraphy Carried Out?

Cryotherapy is carried out using a special device known as the Cryopen® which uses special tips to target skin lesions based on their diameter and depth. We will first carry out an in depth consultation to ensure that cryotherapy is the right treatment for your lesion, followed by pictures and the official consenting for the procedure where we will fully discuss the risks and benefits.

We will then use the pen to direct nitrous oxide onto your lesion, carried out for different lengths of time (and using different tips if necessary which will also depend on the size of the lesion). This may be carried out more than once with a “thaw” time of around 30 seconds in between sessions to ensure the full destruction of the cells for the area being targeted. If however the skin is really thin, it may be that we only carry out one session to avoid potential problems.

Do I Have To Come Back For A Review?

We always try and have our patients come back so we can review the outcome of the treatment. If you are able to come back after two weeks and need a further treatment of the same area, then we usually do this at a discounted cost.

How Long Does It Take To Fully Heal After Cryotherapy?

It can take 2-4 weeks to fully heal and for your skin lesion to drop off the skin depending on the type and location of the treatment. You may notice a blister forming after several hours, similar to being burnt which may be uncomfortable and take a few days to fully settle. We strongly suggest to avoid wearing any tight clothing over the treated area to avoid potential problems with healing (and it will also ensure that the area stays as comfortable as possible, otherwise if it rubs the area that’s been treated, it could flare up or even open the skin which would put you at risk of an infection.)

What Can You Remove?

We are able to remove Milia, Moles (as long as we have a note from a GMC registered Doctor confirming that the mole is benign), Skin Tags, Verrucas and Warts, Cherry Angiomas and Seborrehic Keratosis.

Will It Work Straight Away?

Unfortunately not, it will take a good couple of weeks for skin lesions to drop off and some lesions may need more than one attempt at being removed.

Does It Hurt?

Whilst it is exceptionally cold, you should not feel any pain, but may feel mildly uncomfortable although it is a highly tolerated treatment. It has been described as feeling like a ball point pen being pushed into the skin and some others have explained it to be a little stingy. If you are nervous, we are happy to numb you prior to the application of the nitrous oxide to ensure that you are comfortable.

Can You Remove Skin Tags From My Eyelids And Face?

How Long Does It Take Before It Falls Off?

It can take 1-2 weeks for a skin lesion to drop off after treatment, however some may take long and some may also need more than one treatment.

Will It Scar?

Whilst it is unlikely to scar, any damage to the skin can potentially cause scarring, however most people prefer the risk of a very small scar, to that of the appearance of a skin lesion.

Will The Skin Lesion Grow Back?

This will depend on you and how your skin reacts. For some types of lesions such as Skin Tags, they are generally caused rubbing on the skin of things like necklaces and fabric and whilst that particular skin tag might not come back, another one may occur at some point in a similar region.

Similarly, Seborrehic Keratosis is caused by sun damage which may have resulted from sun exposure at some point during your life. If this is the case, they can occur at any time which means removing one, may not stop another one appearing.

Will I Need More Than One Treatment?

This will depend on how your body reacts to the treatment but in most cases, only one treatment will be necessary.

Cant I Get Them Removed On The NHS?

Unfortunately, since November 2018, benign skin lesions are generally not funded on the NHS as they are seen as cosmetic which means you will have no choice in seeking a private clinic to remove them for you.

What Other Options Are There For Getting These Types Of Skin Lesions Removed?

This will very much depend on the lesion itself, however, electrolysis, plasma and minor surgery are all options available, although these are treatments we don’t (currently) carry out.

What Will The Downtime Be Like?

It may feel a bit like a burn after treatment and it is possible that a small blister may appear several hours after treatment. This will subside within a few days but we do not suggest popping the blister as it can leave you open to infection which can lead to scarring if left. You will probably find a scab will then occur where the tissue it dying away (please do not pick or scrub this). Once this falls off, you may have a small red patch which will disappear within a few days.

Can’t I Just Use One Of Those Freezing Kits From The Shops?

You can certainly give it a try but you may find that they are not as effective and may not get as cold as it needs to, to effectively damage the tissues in a way that will prevent the lesion from being able to continue surviving. The other factor is that the tips on the home kits are not always the right size for the diameter of the skin lesion and could actually end up causing more damage in the healthy tissues surrounding the lesion.

Can I Have Cryotherapy Whilst I Am Pregnant Or Breastfeeding?

Unfortunately we are unable to treat you with cryotherapy if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding. This is because it is unethical to test these types of treatments on pregnant and breastfeeding women so it is impossible to determine whether they are safe.

What Can Go Wrong With Skin Lesion Removal?

The risks for skin lesion removal using the cryopen® is very low but like everything in life, they are still there. There is a small chance of pigmentary changes occurring (this is where the skin could get darker or lighter) along with nerve damage (although this risk is higher on the fingers, wrist and behind the ear where the nerves are much closer to the surface of the skin. There is a change of frozen ice shards getting into contact with healthy skin tissue which could cause damage, and if a hair follicle is damaged, there is a small risk of permanent alopecia (although this has a higher risk where the area being treated in near terminal hair).

Can I Put Anything On The Area After Treatment?

Aloe Vera is very soothing and is definitely an option to put on to the treated after if you would like to for the next three days or so- please just make sure that you dispense it on to something clean like a cotton pad before application to reduce the risk of an infection. Vaseline is also another option and it heavily suggested by dermatologists after most skin treatments.

Can You Remove Moles?

We are very happy to remove moles, however as some moles can be cancerous, we would only remove them if you are able to provide us with a letter from your GP or a Dermatologist confirming the benign nature of the mole. Please note that many Doctors will charge a small fee to do this.

Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About Skin Lesion Removal?

If you are having anything removed from under the armpits, it is really important to avoid using spray deodorant for a couple of weeks. It is much better to buy a roll on deodorant and avoid the treated area

Can I Have A Skin Tag Or Mole Removed If I Am Having Laser Hair Removal?

We would suggest avoiding any treatments that would involve having contact with the area treated, including microneedling, chemical skin peels and laser hair removal.