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Health condition

Cryotherapy for skin lesions

Cryotherapy freezes benign and pre-cancerous lesions, such as viral warts, seborrhoeic keratoses and actinic keratoses, with liquid nitrogen, destroying them without cutting.

Key points

What matters most, at a glance.

The essentials in plain English - symptoms, when to seek help, who to see and what treatment looks like.

  • Liquid nitrogen at -196C is applied by spray or probe for a few seconds per lesion

  • Expect stinging, then redness and sometimes a blister, healing over one to two weeks

  • Warts often need several treatment cycles; actinic keratoses usually respond in one or two

  • Pigment change at the treated site is possible, particularly in darker skin - discuss this beforehand

Understanding it

About Cryotherapy for skin lesions, and what to do next.

Freezing causes ice crystals to destroy targeted cells, after which the treated lesion crusts and detaches as the skin heals underneath. It is quick, needs no anaesthetic and suits actinic keratoses, seborrhoeic keratoses, viral warts and skin tags; it is not appropriate for anything that might be melanoma, which must never be frozen, and diagnostic certainty therefore comes first.

Aftercare is simple, keep the area clean and leave blisters intact, and cosmetic results are usually good, though lighter or darker marks can persist, a particular consideration in brown and black skin. Lesions that fail to clear after appropriate cycles should be reassessed rather than repeatedly frozen. Most people start with their GP, who can refer to a consultant dermatologist. In many parts of the UK, routine NHS referrals for this kind of problem currently take 20-45+ weeks depending on where you live, whereas an initial appointment with a private consultant is typically available within around two weeks.

A quiet reminder

This guide is for information, not medical advice.

Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them.

Frequently asked

Common questions about Cryotherapy for skin lesions.

Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.

  • What is cryotherapy for skin lesions?

    Cryotherapy is a treatment that uses extreme cold (usually liquid nitrogen) to freeze and destroy benign or pre-cancerous skin lesions, such as viral warts, seborrhoeic keratoses, and actinic keratoses.

  • Which skin lesions is cryotherapy used for?

    It's commonly used for viral warts, seborrhoeic keratoses (benign age-related growths), and actinic keratoses (sun-damage-related pre-cancerous patches), and occasionally for certain other superficial benign lesions.

  • What does cryotherapy feel like?

    The treatment causes a brief stinging or burning sensation as the lesion freezes, followed by some redness and swelling over the following days as the treated skin reacts and eventually forms a scab that falls away.

  • Is cryotherapy safe?

    Yes, it's a well-established, generally safe procedure when used for appropriate lesions, though it can occasionally cause blistering, temporary skin colour changes, or scarring, particularly with more aggressive freezing or repeated treatments.

  • How effective is cryotherapy?

    Cryotherapy is effective for many benign and pre-cancerous lesions, though some lesions - particularly stubborn warts or thicker actinic keratoses - may need more than one treatment session to fully resolve.

  • Does cryotherapy hurt?

    Most people experience a brief, tolerable stinging or burning sensation during treatment, without needing local anaesthetic for most lesions, though sensitivity varies between individuals and treatment sites.

  • How long does it take to heal after cryotherapy?

    The treated area typically forms a blister or scab within a day or two, which then heals over one to three weeks, depending on the size and location of the lesion treated.

  • Cryotherapy vs surgical removal - which is better for skin lesions?

    Cryotherapy is quicker and doesn't require stitches, making it well suited to smaller, superficial benign lesions, while surgical removal is preferred for lesions needing a tissue sample for diagnosis or those unsuitable for freezing, such as suspected skin cancers.

  • Can cryotherapy leave a scar?

    Scarring is uncommon with appropriately performed cryotherapy on suitable lesions, but temporary skin lightening or darkening at the treatment site is fairly common, particularly in people with darker skin tones.

  • When should I see a dermatologist about a skin lesion?

    See a dermatologist if a lesion is changing, bleeding, or you're unsure of the diagnosis, since not every lesion is suitable for cryotherapy without proper assessment first. Private dermatology appointments are often available within about two weeks.