Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy for Skin Lesions

Effective treatment for warts, sun damage, age spots, and precancerous skin conditions

Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is a highly effective in-office procedure that uses extreme cold (–196°C) to destroy abnormal or unwanted skin cells. It’s commonly used by dermatologists and medical providers to treat both medical and cosmetic skin lesions quickly, safely, and with minimal downtime.

What Is Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy works by rapidly freezing and thawing targeted tissue, leading to cellular destruction and a local inflammatory response that promotes healthy skin regeneration. The treatment may be applied via cotton-tipped applicator (contact method) or cryospray for more diffuse lesions.

What Cryotherapy Can Treat (with Treatment Protocols)

Below are the top conditions treated with cryotherapy and their specific treatment regimens:

1. Common Warts (Verruca vulgaris)

• Treatment Time: Freeze 10–30 seconds per lesion
• Cycles: 2 freeze-thaw cycles
• Interval: Repeat every 2–3 weeks as needed (usually 2–4 sessions)
• Protocol: Apply until a 1–2 mm ice halo forms around wart. Mild blistering expected.

2. Plantar Warts (Verruca plantaris)

• Treatment Time: Freeze 30–60 seconds per lesion
• Cycles: 2 cycles (more aggressive due to thickness)
• Interval: Repeat every 2–3 weeks (3–6 sessions may be needed)
• Protocol: Paring callus before treatment enhances penetration. Longer freeze may reduce recurrence.

3. Actinic Keratosis (Precancerous sun spots)

• Treatment Time: Freeze 5–10 seconds per lesion
• Cycles: 1 freeze-thaw cycle
• Interval: Most resolve with 1 session; recheck in 4–6 weeks if persistent
• Protocol: Freeze until lesion blanches with ~2 mm margin. Transient redness and crusting expected.

4. Seborrheic Keratosis (Benign thick growths)

• Treatment Time: Freeze 10–20 seconds depending on thickness
• Cycles: 1–2 cycles
• Interval: Reassess in 4–8 weeks; may need a second treatment
• Protocol: Surface whitening should occur. Lesion often darkens and flakes off over 1–2 weeks.

5. Skin Tags (Acrochordons)

• Treatment Time: Freeze 5–10 seconds
• Cycles: 1 cycle
• Interval: Most fall off within 7–14 days
• Protocol: Apply directly to stalk. Avoid overtreatment to prevent scarring in sensitive areas.

6. Age Spots / Solar Lentigines

• Treatment Time: Freeze 5–10 seconds
• Cycles: 1 cycle
• Interval: Typically fade in 1–2 sessions
• Protocol: Cryospray preferred for larger areas. Expect darkening then sloughing of pigment.

7. Molluscum Contagiosum

• Treatment Time: Freeze 5 seconds per lesion
• Cycles: 1–2 cycles
• Interval: Repeat every 3 weeks as needed
• Protocol: Blistering is expected. Mild discomfort normal. Avoid if extensive or inflamed.

8. Cherry Angiomas

• Treatment Time: Freeze 10 seconds per lesion
• Cycles: 1 cycle
• Interval: Usually resolves in 1–2 treatments
• Protocol: Targeted cryospray leads to color darkening and involution over 1 week.

9. Milia or Small Cysts

• Treatment Time: Freeze 5–8 seconds
• Cycles: 1–2 cycles
• Interval: Results typically visible in 7–14 days
• Protocol: Minimal freeze time to prevent scarring. Cryotherapy may cause temporary swelling.

Post-Treatment Care

• Clean the area daily with mild soap and water.
• Blistering, scabbing, and crusting are normal—do not pick.
• Apply petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment as advised.
• Avoid sun exposure on treated areas until healed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cryotherapy painful?

Patients describe it as a brief stinging or burning sensation. The discomfort typically lasts only a few seconds.

Will I need more than one treatment?

That depends on the lesion type, size, and depth. Many benign lesions clear with one session; warts and resistant keratoses may need multiple rounds.

How long does it take to heal?

Most areas heal in 7–14 days, though thicker or larger lesions may take 2–4 weeks.

Schedule Your Cryotherapy Treatment

At [Mountcastle Medical Spa & Laser Center], we provide precision liquid nitrogen cryotherapy for skin tags, warts, age spots, actinic keratosis, and more. Treatments are performed by our experienced team under the supervision of Dr. Timothy Mountcastle, Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.

📍 Located in Ashburn, VA
📞 Call [571-266-1776] or Book Online to schedule your consultation.

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