What Is Cryosurgery and What Conditions Can It Treat?

Cryosurgery is an in-office dermatology procedure used to treat a variety of skin conditions. Because it’s safe and effective, our team at Limmer Dermatology in San Antonio, Texas, may recommend it for some skin cancer lesions, warts, and skin tags.

Cryosurgery works by applying extreme cold to targeted areas of the skin, destroying abnormal or unwanted tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy skin.

Read on to learn more about why we might recommend cryosurgery for your dermatological treatment.

How cryosurgery works

When our team performs cryosurgery, we most often use liquid nitrogen to freeze the affected skin cells. The intense cold causes the targeted cells to break down and eventually shed, allowing healthier skin to regenerate in their place.

Cryosurgery only takes a few minutes in the office. Of course, the exact duration of the procedure depends on the number and size of the treated areas. Most people describe the sensation as a brief stinging or burning sensation, followed by mild discomfort that resolves quickly.

Common skin conditions treated with cryosurgery

We use cryosurgery to treat a wide range of benign, precancerous, and certain cancerous skin lesions. Common conditions include:

Actinic keratoses

Actinic keratoses describe rough, scaly patches that develop from long-term sun exposure and are considered precancerous. Cryosurgery is a widely used treatment to remove these lesions and reduce the risk of progression to skin cancer.

Warts

Our dermatologists often use cryosurgery to treat common warts when topical treatments are ineffective. Freezing the wart destroys infected tissue and stimulates the body’s immune response.

Seborrheic keratoses

These noncancerous growths may appear as  raised, waxy, or rough spots. While harmless, they can be removed with cryosurgery if they become irritated or for cosmetic reasons.

Skin tags

Small skin tags commonly appear in areas of friction, such as the neck, underarms, or groin. Cryosurgery offers a quick and effective option for removal.

Certain skin cancers

In select cases, cryosurgery may be used to treat small, surface-level basal cell skin cancers or very early squamous cell cancers that are limited to the top layer of the skin. Our team determines if cryosurgery is appropriate based on the type, size, and location of the lesion.

What to expect after treatment

After cryosurgery, you may notice blisters, scabs, or darkening in the treated area. This is a regular part of the healing process. Healing time varies depending on the treated area, but typically takes 1-3 weeks.

We provide aftercare instructions to help reduce irritation and promote healing. In most cases, you can expect to return to normal activities right away.

Are you a candidate for cryosurgery?

Cryosurgery is safe and effective for many people, but it’s not the best option for every skin condition. Our dermatology team performs a thorough skin evaluation to determine the most appropriate treatment based on your diagnosis, skin type, and overall health.

If you have a concerning lesion or are interested in treatment options, set up a consultation at Limmer Dermatology by calling today or using this website.