Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy
Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is the application of extremely cold liquid nitrogen via a spray or Q-tip for the treatment of warts, genital warts, actinic keratoses, skin tags, or squamous cell carcinomas. This treatment aims to induce frostbite, skin necrosis, and destruction of the treatment area. This procedure is performed only in physician offices.
Application of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy feels like "liquid fire" and is characterized by sensitive burning and tingling. Immediate redness, irritation, throbbing, and blistering may be seen. While blistering is normal and expected in some cases, the physical discomfort of the blister may be alleviated by "popping" the blister with a clean needle. The treatment area does not have to be treated specially after liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, but relief from an uncomfortable blister (as described above) may be undertaken. Should an erosion or wound occur (as expected), topical application of bacitracin, triple antibiotic ointment, or petroleum jelly should be applied to help the wound heal quickly and with a decreased chance of scarring.
The main risk encountered with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is discoloration - either darker or lighter. This complication is frequent, often expected, and unpredictable as to which persons or lesions will have discoloration. In most cases, this discoloration will completely fade in 1-1.5 years.
Don Mehrabi MD, FAAD
Dermatologist, Certified by the American Board of Dermatology
Los Angeles, California
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