Fast, Effective, Skin Lesion Removal: The Cryotherapy Way
- Rebecca Warhurst
- Jun 18
- 5 min read
Finally. Advanced Cryotherapy Training Completed!
Well, it's official – I can now legally freeze things off people! This treatment has remained on my to-do-list for what feels like forever. Having turned-down loads of patients enquiring about removal of their unsightly “skin extras”, I can now be of some use. I have finally completed my Advanced Cryotherapy training for medics.
What Exactly Is Cryotherapy? (Besides Really, Really Cold)
For those who haven't encountered cryotherapy in the skincare world, let me break it down for you. Cryotherapy – literally meaning "cold treatment" – is a medical procedure that uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal or unwanted tissue. For those of us of a certain age, you might remember getting your warts or verrucae treated with liquid nitrogen, creating temperatures as low as -196°C. Yes, you read that right! I practically needed a bit between my teeth to cope with the pain when the doctor used to blast my swimming-acquired verrucae as a young teen! I am pleased to report that the process has evolved to applying nitrous oxide at a far more comfortable temperature of -86 °C. Still a bit nippy – I’m not going to lie – but perfectly tolerable through mildly gritted teeth.
The Science Behind the Freeze
Here's where it gets interesting (and where my nursing background really came in handy during training). When we apply the cryotherapy, several things happen simultaneously:
The treatment destroys the tissue by freezing the inter-cellular fluid (fluid inside each skin cell), forming ice shards, which rupture the cell membrane thereby destroying the cell (apoptosis for you science lovers out there). The body's natural healing response immediately kicks in, gradually sloughing off the dead tissue over the following days or weeks.
What fascinated me most during training was learning about cellular memory. This must have been covered at some point during my nurse training but the process had slipped my mind over the past 25 years!
In brief, new skin cells are formed somewhere between the upper and lower layers of skin as undifferentiated stem cells (they don’t yet know how or why they are there). As these new cells creep upwards through the skin layers, they find themselves rubbing shoulders with skin cells that have been around the block and can tell them what they should be up to. They eventually meet the veteran skin cells closer to the surface who can fine tune their role, the message finally clicks, and they can function as good little skin cells should do. However, maturity doesn’t always mean that they get it right (something I am sure most of us are familiar with)! If something goes wrong along the way, due to UV damage, for example, as the new skin cells move up through the layers, they start hanging out with the wrong crowd who set them on the wrong path. Eventually, where once stood a pinprick of what you called a freckle, you have a 5mm sun spot as the cells in that area got the wrong memo!
What Can We Actually Treat?
This is where cryotherapy really shines. The range of skin lesions we can effectively treat is quite impressive:
Benign skin lesions like lentigos (those brown patches that multiply as we age), skin tags, and cherry angiomas are perfect candidates. Viral warts – including those stubborn plantar warts that seem immune to everything else – respond brilliantly to cryotherapy. We can also treat verrucae, milia, and various other benign growths. Even lesions within millimetres of the eye are a goer!
What I love about cryotherapy is its versatility. Whether someone's dealing with a single annoying skin tag or multiple age spots, we can tailor the treatment accordingly. It's particularly beneficial over other forms of lesion removal since it doesn’t break the skin, significantly reducing the risk of infection.
Safety First: The Art of Proper Assessment
Here's where my nursing training and the advanced course really emphasised the same crucial point: never, ever treat anything without proper assessment first. This cannot be overstated.
Before any cryotherapy treatment, a thorough examination of the lesion must be performed. We're looking at symmetry, size, shape, colour, and any changes over time. If there is even the slightest doubt about whether a lesion is benign, we refer for a specialist opinion.
Some red flags we watch for include irregular borders, colour variations within a single lesion, rapid changes in size or appearance, and any lesion that bleeds, crusts, or doesn't heal properly. Melanomas and other skin cancers can occasionally masquerade as benign lesions, so our assessment skills need to be absolutely spot-on.
For any suspicious looking candidate (the lesion not the patient) dermoscopy – using specialised magnification to examine lesions in detail – is essential. It's like being a detective, but instead of solving crimes, we're making sure we don't commit one by ensuring every treatment is safe and appropriate.
Enter the Cryo IQ: Why This Device?
Now, let's talk about equipment. I'll be honest – I was initially sceptical about
whether the specific device really mattered that much. Surely cold is cold, right? Wrong.
After a bit of research and hands-on experience during training, I invested in the Cryo IQ device by Cryosthetics. Here's why this device stands out:
Precision Control: The Cryo IQ offers precision in temperature control and application. The fine jet of super cold gas is emitted under pressure and delivered with millimetre precision so there is no collateral damage to surrounding, healthy tissue. A clear protocol identifies the number of seconds per millimetre that an area should be treated. Too little freezing time and you haven't achieved the desired effect; too much and you risk damaging healthy surrounding tissue. It's like cooking a perfect steak – except the “stakes” are considerably higher (pun absolutely intended).
Versatility: The Cryo IQ has different applicator tips for different sized lesions and can be used to treat from the tiniest skin tag up to two 50 pence piece sized areas within one session.
Patient Comfort: The device only requires a few seconds of application time, resulting in more comfortable treatments for patients.
What This Means for Opalesce Skin Clinic
Adding advanced cryotherapy to the treatment list means that I can now offer
patients a minimally invasive, highly effective treatment option for various skin lesions. Whether someone's dealing with age spots that make them self-conscious, annoying skin tags that catch on clothing, or stubborn warts, I now have an excellent solution.
The treatment is quick, with no downtime, and is affordable. Patients can return to normal activities immediately, though we do provide detailed aftercare instructions to ensure optimal healing.
Looking Forward
As I settle into offering cryotherapy treatments, I'm excited about the possibilities. The combination of my nursing background, the comprehensive training, and the advanced Cryo IQ technology means our patients can expect safe, effective, and comfortable(ish) treatments.
Plus, there's something undeniably satisfying about mastering a new skill set. Who knew that learning to freeze things professionally could be so rewarding?
If you're considering cryotherapy for any skin lesions, I'd love to discuss whether it might be right for you. After all, I've now got the training, the equipment, and the enthusiasm to help!
Ready to explore cryotherapy options?
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