Cryotherapy Blemish Removal
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What is the CryoPen?

CryoPen™ is an advanced cryotherapy innovation that is a fast, effective, safe and new solution for removal of skin imperfections. Cryotherapy is a relatively low-risk procedure. Cryopen™ precisely delivers a fine jet of N 2O directly to the area, and not the healthy surrounding tissue. Cryopen™ is both CE and FDA registered. 

How does the CryoPen work?

The CryoPen™ uses N 2O at a temperature of –89°C under high pressure, which allows the clinician to work with millimetre precision. The targeted tissue is detroyed by freezing the inter-cellular fluid, forming ice shards and crystals which rupture the membrane, thereby destroying the cell. That means there will be little or no damage to healthy tissue. It’s accurate and practical. 

Why do people have CryoPen treatments?

Cosmetic procedures such as skin tags, millia and cherry angiomas are no longer being treated by many doctors on the NHS. With the CryoPen™ you can now have these treatments at Moyal Therapies. The procedure is fast and effective.

How does the CryoPen treatment feel?

During the treatment you might feel a stinging cold sensation. Immediately afterwards you might have sensation similar to a stinging nettle on the skin. There might be residual stinging for 10-15 minutes after treatment. The area may also be slightly itchy for about ten minutes. Over the next 24 hours a blister might form. As with any blister some may be painful, but this is relatively rare.

What can I expect during my CryoPen treatment?

A consultation will be given prior to starting the treatment, and you will be made aware of any risks involved and have a chance to ask questions. The duration of the treatment time will depend on the surface area, the thickness of the tissue being treated and your skin colour. This will be decided upon inspection of the skin imperfection and the clinician will choose an application time from 5 to 30 seconds. After the treatment you will be given an after-care sheet to take away (also available to download from this website)

Are there any adverse effects? 

Cryotherapy usually goes smoothly, is very safe and any adverse effects are rare. There has never been a reported allergy to N 2O, which is used to freeze the lesion. The most common adverse effects of Cryotherapy are swelling and blistering, pain, pale discolouration of the skin and rarely infection. Your therapist will take every precaution to minimise any risks.

Swelling - Swelling can occur within 24 hours of the treatment, this is most common when lesions around the eyes, forehead and temples have been treated. Severe swelling is rare. The swelling will resolve naturally over the next few weeks, and may be worse in the morning.

Blistering - The goal of Cryotherapy is to achieve a blister. However, often the blister is so thin that it can't be seen and it may have minimal swelling. Sometimes, a blood blister wil form which can look quite dramatic but is harmless.

Pain – As with any blister, be it from wearing tight shoes, an oven burn or from Cryotherapy, it can be slightly painful. The pain should for most people be temporary, and subside within a day or so.

Infection - Rarely, the blister may become infected. When this happens, the blister becomes unusually tender, the fluid becomes cloudy, and the redness around it becomes more extensive. Contact the clinic or your GP if this happens, as a course of antibiotics might be needed. Cryotherapy does not generally leave scars, however if the blister becomes infected it increases the likelihood of a scar occurring.

Headache - Rarely, when lesions are frozen around the scalp and temples, a headache may follow. This should go away within a few hours and an over the counter painkiller can be taken for pain relief.

Fever - A fever lasting for up to 24 hours has been reported following Cryotherapy. It is extremely rare, and the reason for this is uncertain.

Pale discolouration - Some lesions, especially those on the face, may leave a slight pale discolouration. True scarring, involving deeper layers of the skin is unlikely.

Nerve Freezing - In some areas, where the nerves lie very close to the skins surface, the nerves can be frozen. This can cause numbness. However, the nerves will in most instances regenerate slowly, bringing feeling back to the treated area. 

Your therapist will discuss the risks associated with Cryotherapy with you before your treatment.

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Filliform warts versus skin tags

The majority of warts have a very distinct appearance, looking like little rough bumps usually round in shape and less than one centimetre wide.

However, one type of wart which can often be confused with a skin tag is the filiform wart. The filiform wart is caused by a subtype of the HPV virus. More than 70 subtypes of the HPV virus are known, each causing different types of warts on different parts of the body.

What does cryotherapy do to the skin.
What does cryotherapy do to the skin.

The effects of applying low temperature to the skin gradually increases as the temperature drops. Initially proteins and lipids, as well as the metabolism of the cell is altered. As the temperature drops below 0°C, first the water outside the cell begins to crystallise, causing the cell to dehydrate. At temperatures below −20°C, the water inside the cell starts to crystallise, and at −40°C intracellular ice formation is certain.

How does skin heal after cryotherapy
How does skin heal after cryotherapy

At the clinic, the agent used for cryosurgery is N 20, a gas which has been adopted as an alternative to liquid nitrogen. Cryosurgery is a safe, non-invasive treatment for unwanted skin growths and blemishes. Immediately during and after the treatment, you may feel a stinging sensation as the tissue is frozen and thawed. Some may only notice this during the treatment, for other this sensation may linger for a few hours after, especially if multiple lesions were have been treated in the same area. A mild analgesic ointment can be applied to relieve the sensation.

The history of the use of cryosurgery in dermatology
The history of the use of cryosurgery in dermatology

Cryosurgery (meaning cold handiwork) is also known as cryotherapy, cryocautery, cryocongelation and cryogenic surgery. Cold therapy has a long history of being used for analgesia and anti-inflammatory purposes, going as far back as the ancient Egyptians. However, during the past 200 years, it has evolved into a more specific use, namely the destruction of tissue in dermatology.

6 types of hyper-pigmentation: causes and treatments
6 types of hyper-pigmentation: causes and treatments

Most individuals will experience some form of hyper-pigmentation during their lifetime. Hyper-pigmentation can take many forms, but is essentially an overproduction and an abnormal distribution of pigmentation, usually melanin. Thankfully, there are many treatments on offer to reduce and/or remove such pigmentation. At my clinic in East Finchley, I have successfully been removing sun, age and liver spots with cryotherapy for several years.

This articles has been put together to give you an overview of the different types of hyper-pigmentation and to help you make the right choice when it comes to treating this condition.

Common skin lesions and growths found in older skin
Common skin lesions and growths found in older skin

As skin becomes older changes start to happen. It is common for skin to become dryer, thinner and less elastic as well as for fine lines to appear. Sun exposure can speed up changes in the skin, and be a factor in age related changes such as unwanted dark patches, roughness and wrinkles. Here we take a look at the most common skin growths found on ageing skin.

Diagram side view of the common wart
Side view diagrams of the most common forms of warts.

Warts can take on many different appearances. Here is a slideshow of the most common types of warts as seen from a side view.

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How to distinguish flat warts from other similar looking skin conditions.

Recently a client visited the clinic with what appeared to be flat warts around the nose, forehead and eyes. However, after a closer inspection an alternative diagnosis was considered. Flat warts can easily be mistaken for other skin conditions. Here we take a look at flat warts and compare them to two other very common skin condition.

Cherry angiomas (red spots): Causes and treatment.
Cherry angiomas (red spots): Causes and treatment.

Cherry angiomas, as they are most commonly known, are little clusters of broken blood vessels on the skin. They usually look like domes ranging in colour from bright red to purple, however they can also appear flat. They usually start out very small, the size of a pinprick, and grow larger over time. Cherry angiomas are harmless, however some people go on to have them removed due to cosmetic reasons.
Research has yet to find a concrete cause of cherry angiomas. However, it has been linked to pregnancy, climate, toxins and ageing. Some people are also thought to have a genetic predisposition for developing these type of lesions. 

Removing warts: The pros and cons of the different methods available.
Removing warts: The pros and cons of the different methods available.

Warts are caused by a common virus. With over 100 different types of the wart virus, most people will have at least one type of wart in their lifetime. Warts will usually disappear on their own in time. However, just one wart can quickly multiply, as warts are spread by direct contact. In particular, picking at or accidentally cutting the wart with a razor, can make the wart spread very fast.

Thankfully there are many options available to remove warts. The list below will cover home remedies as well as professional wart removal treatments available.