Cryotherapy
Liquid nitrogen for precancerous and benign lesions
Cryotherapy freezes abnormal cells with liquid nitrogen in seconds and lets the skin heal from underneath. It is the quickest treatment in dermatology for actinic keratoses, warts and many benign growths.
What it treats
Is this for you?
- Actinic keratoses, the rough precancerous spots
- Warts, including plantar warts
- Seborrheic keratoses
- Skin tags
- Molluscum
- Some superficial skin cancers, assessed case by case
How it works
What is actually happening.
Liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees Celsius is sprayed onto the lesion for a few seconds, freezing the abnormal cells so they die and lift away while the deeper healthy skin heals upward. Freeze time is matched to the lesion: brief for a thin actinic keratosis, longer for a thick wart, sometimes in two cycles.
For many scattered actinic keratoses, Dr. Nawas may suggest treating the whole area with Fraxel or a chemical peel instead of freezing spots one at a time.
Your visit
What the appointment is like.
Examine
Each lesion is checked; anything uncertain is biopsied rather than frozen.
Freeze
A spray of liquid nitrogen for 5 to 20 seconds. It stings during treatment and for a short time afterward.
Heal
A blister or scab forms within a day and falls away in one to two weeks.
Review
Thick lesions may need a second visit in three to four weeks.
Before and after your appointment
Simple preparation, simple recovery.
Before
- No preparation is needed.
- Tell Dr. Nawas about cold-related conditions such as Raynaud's or cold urticaria.
Afterward
- Leave any blister intact; if it breaks, keep it clean and covered.
- A little redness and swelling for a day; the scab comes off on its own.
- Sunscreen on the site for a few months; temporary lightening is possible, more noticeable in deeper skin tones.
Pricing
Published in advance, like everything else here.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| CryotherapyPer session, one or several lesions | $200 |
Original Medicare is accepted for medical and surgical dermatology, and many Medicare Advantage PPO plans can be billed out of network. We do not bill commercial insurance: you receive an itemized superbill with the diagnosis and procedure codes to submit for out-of-network reimbursement. How insurance, superbills and financing work here.
Good to know
Questions patients ask.
Does it hurt?
A sharp cold sting for a few seconds, then a mild burn for an hour or so. Most patients do not need anesthesia.
Will it leave a mark?
Often a lighter spot that fades over months. On deeper skin tones the lightening can last longer, which is discussed first.
What if the lesion comes back?
Warts and thick keratoses sometimes need repeat freezing. A lesion that keeps returning is biopsied.
Related procedures
Often planned together.
Next step
Ready when you are.
Precancerous and benign spots, treated in seconds.
New to ZN Dermatology? Choose a consultation appointment: the spots are examined and treated at the same visit.