What to Expect Following Cryosurgery (Liquid Nitrogen)
What is Cryosurgery?
Cryosurgery is a technique for removing skin lesions that primarily involve the surface of the skin, such as warts, seborrheic keratosis, or actinic keratosis. It is a quick method of removing the lesion with minimal scarring.
What to Expect Over the Next Few Weeks During Treatment
You can shower normally and pat dry. The area being treated may sting,
burn, and possibly itch. Apply ointment like Aquaphor, Vaseline, or over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. If you are allowed, you can take Tylenol
or Motrin for discomfort as directed. If area is rubbing clothing, apply a band-aid. If a blister forms, please call the office.
Over the next 2 to 4 Weeks
The area should scab and fall off.
Avoid glycolic acids, Vitamin C, scrubs, Tretinoin (Retin-A), and Retinol creams for 7 to 10 days. If approved by your Provider, you may bathe, swim, exercise, and otherwise follow all of your normal activities. The area may get wet while bathing, but swimming or hot tub use should be avoided for one week following a treatment or while the skin is open. Within 24 hours, you can expect the area to be swollen and/or blistered. The blister may not be visible to the naked eye. Within one week , the swelling goes down. The top becomes dark red and scab-like. The scab will loosen over the next weeks, and should fall off within one month.