What is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is a treatment method that utilizes the physical properties of a cryogenic substance to reduce the skin temperature of locally diseased tissue, reduce capillary capillaries, necrosis of tissue cells, and local paralysis, thereby removing warts or purulent granuloma. The most commonly used refrigerant is liquid nitrogen.

Basic Information

Chinese name

Cryotherapy

Indication

Benign skin disease, malignant skin tumor

Contraindications

Raynaud's disease, severe cold urticaria, etc.

Operation method

Cotton swab method, spray method, closed contact treatment

1. Benign skin diseases: all kinds of warts (such as common warts, flat warts, genital warts, molluscum contagiosum, etc.), nodular prurigo, seborrheic keratosis, and purulent granuloma.
2. Malignant skin tumors and precancerous lesions.

1. People with Raynaud's disease, severe cold urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, cold fibrinogenemia, and severe frostbite.
2. Patients with severe ulceration or infection.
3 The elderly, young children, and frail people cannot tolerate cryotherapy.
4 Patients with diabetes and long-term use of glucocorticoids should be used with caution.

1. Assess the patient's condition, tolerance to pain, and cooperation.
2. Explain the purpose and precautions of cryotherapy to patients and their families.
3 Prepare disposable treatment sheets, treatment trays, sterile cotton swabs or freezing instruments, liquid nitrogen, and sterile surgical blades if necessary.

1. The cotton swab method is suitable for small superficial damage. Use a cotton swab dipped in liquid nitrogen to directly contact the skin lesions. Press lightly to cause local edema or repeatedly repeatedly deep pressure to make it hard and white, and the heavier person can repeatedly thaw at least 3 times. During the treatment, the patient consciously felt stinging in the frozen area, but was generally tolerable. At the end of the treatment, the skin tissue was frozen and whitish. After a few minutes, the skin was thawed, swelling and pain, and erythematous blister appeared within 1 to 2 days. Usually within 1 to 2 weeks, it can heal and self-heal, and there are temporary pigmentation or hypopigmentation spots in the local area.
2. The spray method is suitable for deep skin lesions such as large areas, uneven surfaces and tumors, and can also be used for the treatment of oral lesions. Liquid nitrogen evaporates in the treatment device to generate pressure, which is sprayed from the nozzle and sprayed on the skin lesion to achieve the purpose of treatment.
3 Closed contact therapy is suitable for the treatment of deeper skin lesions. A special treatment machine is needed. Liquid nitrogen is sprayed on the freezing head through a catheter, and after cooling, it is placed on the skin lesion for treatment. In this method, liquid nitrogen can be continuously sprayed on the freezing head to keep it cold.

1. After treatment, keep the wound clean and dry.
2. The occurrence of blisters, blood blister, and peeling are normal phenomena of cryotherapy, and they usually resolve on their own.
3 When the blister is too large, pierce the blister wall with a sterile syringe to release the blister. The blister wall is still attached to the skin surface to reduce the chance of secondary infection.
4 When the condition requires repeated treatment, it should be performed after the epidermis has fallen off.