DCCS Derm and Minor Surgery/Vasectomy ClinicNHS
A community service
Commissioned with NHS Cambridgeshire
GP Specialists / Dr Paolo FargnoliDr Anna Trigell
Dr Tim Mears / Email: / Main Site:
DCCS
Buckden Surgery
Mayfield, Buckden
St Neots, Cambs PE19 5SZ
Other Localities include:
Eaton Socon, Huntingdon, St Ives and Warboys
Office hours: / 09.00-17.00 hrs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
09.00-13.00 hrs Thursday
Telephone: / 01480 813969 / Fax: 01480 810745
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET – CARE OF SKIN AFTER CRYOTHERAPY
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is carefully controlled local freezing to destroy a skin lesion.
What does it involve?
Your wart/verucca/skin lump has been treated by freezing it with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy). When liquid nitrogen is applied to the skin, it will deep-freeze it. Some stinging will become apparent during the treatment and continue through the thawing process. It usually settles within a few minutes.
What to expect after treatment and what needs to be done about it?
After treatment, there will be redness and swelling in the treated area; the degree of swelling will depend on the site and duration of freezing. If the area is very sore you may take Paracetamol in the recommended dosage, as necessary. The redness and swelling usually lasts for only a few days.
Sometimes a blister may form just as with a hot burn (blood in a blister is not concerning). If it does, and becomes uncomfortable use a clean needle to release fluid. A smear of antiseptic cream (eg Savlon) may then be applied twice a day to reduce the very small risk of infection.
The treated area may weep and then form a scab. It may also be treated with an antiseptic cream, as is the case for a mild burn or scald. The scab will normally come off within 10-16 days.
If you have had a wart treated, the treatment may be sufficient to loosen it but you may need to lift it off to make sure that it does not become reattached as the skin repairs itself. Once the wart has come off, it may leave a crust behind.
It will normally take between ten days and three weeks for the skin to heal, although for certain skin conditions, particularly affecting the legs, healing may take longer. Once healing has occurred, the skin may appear pink or pale for some months.
If any change should occur that has not been explained by the above, please contact your family doctor.
References:Dawber R (1997): Benign Lesions In: Dawber R Clover G Jackson A (Eds): Cutaneous Cryosurgery, Principles and Clinical Practice. 2nd
Ed, London Martin Dunitz
Burge S (1996) Cryotherapy In: Burge S Clover G Lester R (eds): Simple Skin Surgery. 2nd Ed, Blackwell Science Ltd, Oxford
Chalmar RJG (1992): Warts, Treatment with Liquid Nitrogen Patient Information Leaflet, Manchester Salford Hospital J>C Sterling, SH Jones,
PM Hudson (1999) Management of Cutaneous Warts, British Association of Dermatology London
Stewart K (1998): How to perform cryosurgery for warts. British Journal of Dermatology Nursing Autumn 8-9
Derm Clinics/Drawer Stationery/Skin Care after Cryo – 15.6.2010– Version 1