Cryotherapy for benign skin lesions

Can Freezing Really Treat Skin Lesions Safely?

Yes—and it’s more precise than ever.
Cryotherapy using the CryoPen® is a fast, effective, and minimally invasive way to remove a wide variety of benign skin lesions. It works by delivering ultra-cold nitrous oxide directly to the lesion, freezing it with pinpoint accuracy—while sparing the healthy tissue around it.

At Skin Enhance and Wellness, Dr Tash uses the CryoPen® O, a doctor-only device that reaches significantly lower temperatures and treats lesions more quickly and deeply than standard models.

How Does CryoPen® Work?

CryoPen® delivers nitrous oxide at -89°C, rapidly freezing the lesion. This causes the fluid inside the cells to form sharp ice crystals, which rupture the cell membranes, resulting in controlled cell death (necrosis). The treated area gradually dries, flakes, or forms a scab as the skin heals.

Unlike traditional cryotherapy, CryoPen® delivers a high-pressure, precision spray that can treat lesions as small as 1mm with millimetre accuracy, avoiding damage to surrounding healthy tissue. It’s gentle enough for use on delicate areas, including the face and near the eyes.

What Can Cryotherapy Treat?

CryoPen® is suitable for a wide range of benign cosmetic skin lesions, including:

✅ Warts & Verrucas

✅ Skin tags

✅ Benign moles

✅ Cherry angiomas

✅ Solar lentigines (age spots)

✅ Seborrhoeic keratoses

✅ Granulomas

✅ Angiofibromas

✅ Dermatofibromas

✅ Molluscum contagiosum

✅ Actinic keratosis (precancerous)

Note: A full skin assessment will be performed to confirm that the lesion is benign and suitable for treatment.

When Is Cryotherapy Not Suitable?

CryoPen® is not recommended if you have:

Impaired sensation or circulation in the treatment area

Skin lesions of suspicious or unknown diagnosis

Hypersensitivity to cold (e.g. cold urticaria)

Areas with open wounds or superficial nerves

Diagnosed or suspected skin cancer

Possible Side Effects

Cryotherapy is generally safe and well-tolerated, but as with any skin procedure, some side effects may occur:

⚠️ Temporary pigment changes (lightening or darkening of the skin)

⚠️ Temporary nerve irritation in sensitive areas

⚠️ Hair loss in the treated area (if near a follicle)

⚠️ Flecks of frozen tissue may briefly remain post-treatment

Most side effects are mild and temporary, with minimal downtime required.

Why Choose CryoPen® at Skin Enhance and Wellness?

✅ Doctor-led assessment and treatment using the powerful CryoPen® O

✅ Fast, precise application with minimal discomfort

✅ No scalpels, stitches, or downtime

✅ Suitable for delicate facial areas

✅ Personalised treatment plan following diagnosis

At a Glance

NUMBER OF TREATMENTS	Usually 1-2 treatments 7-10 days apart or 2-3 weeks apart depending on the type of lesion.
PROCEDURE TIME	2-30 seconds treatment per lesion
RECOVERY TIME	Usually immediate
ANAESTHETIC	Nil
BACK TO NORMAL	Usually immediately however some may experience some stinging for a few hours
FINAL RESULTS	Varies but some noticeable improvement after 1 treatment
DURATION OF RESULTS	Usually permanent
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS	Pigment changes, nerve damage, loss of hair
PRECAUTIONS POST PROCEDURE	Avoid covering the area.
Contraindications	Pregnancy and Breastfeeding. Skin Cancer or suspicious moles. Impaired sensation or circulation. Hypersensitivity to cold.
What conditions is this suitable for?	Warts & verrucas, Skin tags, Age spots, Seborrhoeic keratosis, cherry angiomas.
Any pre-treatment necessary?	Pre-treated Verrucas have more successful outcome.

Disclaimer: Each person is unique so there will always be variation in individual response to treatment, recovery, and downtime following treatment. Please bear in mind that the above are estimates. Please book an appointment with me for your tailor-made treatment plan.

Before and After

Benign Skin Lesion Treatment Dr Tash

Cryotherapy Treatment

£79

Cryotherapy for the first session £79 per lesion (may require further treatments at £59 per session per lesion)
(Subject to consultation)

Online Booking Link

Frequently Asked Questions

How does cryotherapy work?

Cryotherapy is simply a procedure that uses extreme cold to destroy tissue. The process is called cryo-necrosis, that is, tissue destruction by freezing.

CryoPen^®O is Doctor-only use Premium device with a more extended scope of applications. It is both a CE approved and FDA registered device.

How is cryotherapy better than other methods for removing skin lesions?

Cryotherapy is a quick procedure. It does not require any anaesthesia, has a low risk of scarring and does not require any specific post-procedure care.

What happens during a cryotherapy session?

At each treatment, the ‘Freeze-thaw-Freeze’ Cycle is used.

Step 1: The CryoPen^® applicator is held close to but not touching the lesion and the jet of nitrous oxide is directed at the lesion for the required number of seconds, usually 5-30 seconds depending on the size of the lesion.

Step 2: The tissue is allowed to thaw for about 30seconds. There may be some redness on the lesion.

Step 3: Step 1 is repeated but maybe for a shorter duration

Is the treatment painful?

There will be a pain sensation similar to a ballpoint pen being pushed onto the skin when the nitrous oxide reaches the bottom of the lesion. There might be a little residual stinging sensation for a few minutes after the treatment. Occasionally a blister might form and persist for several hours.

What should I do after the treatment?

After treatment, the area should be left uncovered to heal. It should not be occluded with any dressing or creams. A scab will form, and this should be allowed to fall off naturally.

There are no limits on activities except to protect the area from damage or abrasion. Swimming and showering are not a problem.

A follow-up visit is recommended to confirm all treatment is completed or to complete follow-up treatment after a specified interval.

Are there any side effects?

CryoPen^®treatment is relatively low risk and side effects and complications are usually minimal.

There are a few side effects that may occur after treatment, including:

Pigmentary changes: Both hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) and Hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin). Both can last a few months and rarely for long periods. This is more common in darker skin types.
Nerve damage: Although rare, damage to nerves is possible, particularly in areas where they lie closer to the surface of the skin, such as the fingers, the wrist, and the area behind the ear. Reports suggest this will disappear within several months.
Shards of frozen ice: The CryoPen^®delivers nitrous oxide under high pressure hence minor shards of frozen ice may blow out. They will thaw on contact with healthy skin.
Hair follicle damage and permanent alopecia or loss of hair may occur.

How long will the results last?

For most lesions, cryotherapy is a permanent removal.

Some lesions are harder to remove than others and require several aggressive treatments.

How many treatments will I require?

Most small common warts will respond to a single treatment. However certain types and very deep ones can be difficult to remove and require several treatments.

In general, most lesions require a follow-up treatment in 2-3 weeks (cost of which will be discussed during your initial consultation) but if 4 weeks have passed, you will require new treatment with cost implications.

Verrucas normally need 2 treatments 7days apart (cost of which will be discussed during your consultation) again if 2 weeks have passed, you will require new treatment with cost implications.

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Related Blogs

by Dr Tash Kanagasabai | Dec 22, 2018 | Benign skin lesions

Do you have annoying skin lesions that you want rid of? I am excited to be able to offer cryotherapy for benign skin lesions. This is a state-of-the-art advanced device coming to Skin Enhance and Wellness. As a GP, a large percentage of my consultations involve...

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