After cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen freezing)

Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy abnormal skin cells. It is commonly used for sunspots (solar keratoses), warts and seborrhoeic keratoses.

What to expect

• Straight away: stinging, redness and some swelling. This settles within hours.
• Within 24 hours: a blister may form. It can be clear or filled with blood. This is normal.
• Over 1 to 2 weeks: the blister dries into a scab, which falls off by itself.
• Healing time: usually 1 to 3 weeks. It can take longer on the lower legs.

How to look after the area

• Wash normally with soap and water. Pat dry.
• Leave blisters alone where possible. If a blister is large, tense and painful, you can pierce the edge with a sterile needle to let the fluid out. Leave the roof of the blister in place.
• If the area rubs on clothing or shoes, apply a little petroleum jelly and cover it with a bandaid.
• Do not pick the scab.
• For pain, take paracetamol if you need it.

After it has healed

• The treated skin may be lighter or darker than the skin around it. This often improves over months, but can be permanent.
• Protect the area from the sun.
• Warts often need several treatments, usually 3 to 4 weeks apart.
• If a treated spot comes back or does not heal, please see us again. Some spots need a biopsy.

When to contact us

• Redness or swelling that is spreading
• Increasing pain, pus, or a fever
• A wound that has not healed after 6 weeks