Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionPurposePreparationProcedureRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Purpose
Preparation
Procedure
Recovery
Cryotherapy—also known as cryosurgery—uses freezing temperatures to destroy abnormal cells or tissues.
Cryotherapy can be performed externally for skin conditions—likeplantar wartsandmolluscum contagiosumor more serious conditions likebasalandsquamous cell carcinomas.It can also be performed internally for tumors.
This article will cover cryotherapy’s uses, its purpose, and what to expect during the procedure. It will also discuss contraindications and potential risks.
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What Is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is typically anoutpatientprocedure for destroying abnormal cells and tissues. It can treat the skin ortumorsinside the body.
Nitrogen and argon gas—which are extremely cold—are sprayed or applied to the desired area. The freeze and thawing cycle causes the cells or tissues to die. When this process is repeated, there is more success in cellular death.
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Contraindications
Cryotherapy should not apply to skin conditions that are undiagnosed, have undefined edges, or tissue that needs to go in for pathology review.
Other contraindications for cryotherapy include conditions that exposure to the cold has worsened. These include:
Cryotherapy may not work for areas with poor blood circulation because the cold causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow. When there is poor circulation to begin with, cryotherapy could cause unintended tissuenecrosis(tissue death).
Potential Risks
Cryotherapy is generally considered a safe, non-invasive treatment for many different conditions. However, with every procedure or surgery, there are always potential risks.
The dangers of cryotherapy will vary from person to person based on their overall health and the specific cryotherapy treatment they are receiving.
Potential risks of cryotherapy include:
Purpose of Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy may help people who have certain skin conditions and cancers. It can apply externally to the skin and internally for tumors.
Cryotherapy is a great option for people who cannot have surgery due to other medical conditions or age.
It can work in conjunction with other treatments.
How to Prepare
External cryotherapy (on the skin) requires very little preparation.
Internal cryotherapy requires general surgery preparation. A healthcare provider will provideinstructionson what those circumstances require.
Location
The location of the procedure depends on the type of cryotherapy:
External cryotherapyis anoutpatientprocedure that a healthcare provider can perform in their office.
Internal cryotherapytakes place in ahospital settingand may require an overnight stay.
What to Wear
For cryotherapy for the skin, wear clothing that makes the indicated spot easy to access. Some healthcare providers may have their patients change into gowns.
Food and Drink
For external cryotherapy, you will not need to change what you eat or drink before the procedure.
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What to Expect Day of Surgery
There is very little to do to prepare for cryotherapy. This is one of the greatest benefits of this procedure.
If someone needs internal cryotherapy, preparations will be similar to those of general surgery. External cryotherapy can be as simple as visiting a healthcare provider’s office.
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During the Surgery
The procedure experience varies based on whether it is external or internal:
After the Surgery
Immediately after external cryotherapy surgery, you can move around can leave.
However, with internal cryotherapy, your healthcare provider may need to wake you up from any sedation and monitor you. This will vary from case to case, and your healthcare provider will discuss it with you.
After external cryotherapy surgeries, you can resume physical activity right away. You may need to keep your skin protected withbandagesor ointments, which your healthcare provider will describe to you before you leave your appointment.
After internal cryotherapy surgeries, you may need to stay in the hospital overnight or for longer.
There will be follow-up appointments for the healthcare provider to:
Healing
External cryotherapy for the skin can cause redness, blistering, andswelling. Clear fluid may ooze from the wound for five to 14 days until it forms a scab. Thescabwill fall off on its own.
The healing time for cryotherapy affecting the head or neck area is typically two to six weeks. For other areas of the body, this may take longer.
Possible Future Surgeries
Cryotherapy may require multiple sessions, ranging from one to three. Certain conditions, such as warts,seborrheic keratosis, and basal and squamous cellcarcinoma, are more likely to require more session
Summary
Cryotherapy is a type of treatment that uses extreme cold to freeze abnormal cells and tissues. It can treat various skin conditions such as warts, hemangiomas, and skin cancer. Cryotherapy can also work internally to kill tumors. Recovery from cryotherapy is minimal and generally well tolerated.
Pregnant women, children, people with severe high blood pressure, and people with heart conditions should not try cryotherapy.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Clebak KT, Mendez-Miller M, Croad J.Cutaneous cryosurgery for common skin conditions.American Family Physician. 2020;101(7):399-406.National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Cryosurgery.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Clebak KT, Mendez-Miller M, Croad J.Cutaneous cryosurgery for common skin conditions.American Family Physician. 2020;101(7):399-406.National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Cryosurgery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Clebak KT, Mendez-Miller M, Croad J.Cutaneous cryosurgery for common skin conditions.American Family Physician. 2020;101(7):399-406.National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Cryosurgery.
Clebak KT, Mendez-Miller M, Croad J.Cutaneous cryosurgery for common skin conditions.American Family Physician. 2020;101(7):399-406.
National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Cryosurgery.
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