Liquid Nitrogen Treatment
AMITY HEALTH CENTRE
What is Liquid Nitrogen?
Liquid Nitrogen is a liquid that boils at a very low temperature (-196OC). It works by destroying the tissue of your skin by freezing it.
It is used for a variety of skin conditions including:
- Solar Keratoses (areas of sun damage)
- Viral warts and Verrucae
- Seborrhoeic Keratoses (aging spots)
- Some minor skin cancers
It is a relatively inexpensive, safe and reliable treatment.
What will happen?
The nurse or doctor will spray the affected area of your skin for a few seconds with a the Cryogen spraygun or touch it with a wooden applicator tipped with cotton wool which has been dipped in liquid nitrogen. It is usual for the skin to go white during this process. This process may be repeated after a few seconds when the area has thawed. It may be suggested that you return for further treatment in around 4 weeks time.
What will I feel?
Freezing with liquid nitrogen stings and may be painful at the time of administration and for a variable time afterwards. There may be immediate swelling and redness. It may be necessary for you to take some form of painkiller to reduce the discomfort over the next day or two.
What happens after treatment?
The treated area is likely to blister within a few hours. Sometimes the blister is clear and sometimes it is red or purple due to bleeding (this is harmless). Within a few days a scab forms and the blister gradually dries up. If treatment has been carried out near the eye, your eyelid may be puffy for a few days. Usually no special attention is needed during healing. The area may be washed gently and should be kept clean. It may be necessary to apply a dressing such as a Band-aid if the treated area is on a part of the body that may be knocked or rubbed.
When the blister dries to a scab it should not be picked, and applying a moisturising cream such as Vaseline may be helpful. The scab peels off after 5-10 days on the face, 3 weeks on the hand and up to 3 months on the lower leg where healing is often slow. Secondary infection is rare. When it does occur it may cause increased pain, swelling, a thick yellow blister, a discharge of pus or redness around the treated area. Come back to see the nurse or doctor if you are at all concerned about the appearance or feel of the treated area
What can I expect as the final result?
After a standard freeze of a solar keratosis, seborrhoeic keratosis or viral wart, the skin may eventually appear entirely normal without any sign of the original skin lesion.It may however result in a white mark of reduced pigmentation or a scar, particularly when freezing has been prolonged or deep. A white mark may sometimes follow a light freeze and may be particularly noticeable especially in those with darker complexions. The appearance often improves with time but may not return to the original colour. The condition may fail to clear with treatment or may recur at a later date. In this case further treatment may be recommended or alternative treatment such as surgical removal. Occasionally a hard freeze on the skin overlying a nerve that runs near the surface eg on the side of a finger, may result in numbness of the area of skin that that nerve supplies. The feeling nearly always returns to normal within a few weeks or months.
What will it cost?
Treatment carried out by one of our Practice Nurses normally costs $10-$20.00 depending on the extent of treatment carried out. Treatment by a Doctor is likely to cost up to the appropriate consultation fee.
PLEASE ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS TREATMENT.
ONLY AGREE TO HAVE THIS TREATMENT IF YOU ARE HAPPY THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS INVOLVED, WHAT IS TRYING TO BE ACHIEVED AND WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS AND RISKS.
What is Liquid Nitrogen?
Liquid Nitrogen is a liquid that boils at a very low temperature (-196OC). It works by destroying the tissue of your skin by freezing it.
It is used for a variety of skin conditions including:
- Solar Keratoses (areas of sun damage)
- Viral warts and Verrucae
- Seborrhoeic Keratoses (aging spots)
- Some minor skin cancers
It is a relatively inexpensive, safe and reliable treatment.
What will happen?
The nurse or doctor will spray the affected area of your skin for a few seconds with a the Cryogen spraygun or touch it with a wooden applicator tipped with cotton wool which has been dipped in liquid nitrogen. It is usual for the skin to go white during this process. This process may be repeated after a few seconds when the area has thawed. It may be suggested that you return for further treatment in around 4 weeks time.
What will I feel?
Freezing with liquid nitrogen stings and may be painful at the time of administration and for a variable time afterwards. There may be immediate swelling and redness. It may be necessary for you to take some form of painkiller to reduce the discomfort over the next day or two.
What happens after treatment?
The treated area is likely to blister within a few hours. Sometimes the blister is clear and sometimes it is red or purple due to bleeding (this is harmless). Within a few days a scab forms and the blister gradually dries up. If treatment has been carried out near the eye, your eyelid may be puffy for a few days. Usually no special attention is needed during healing. The area may be washed gently and should be kept clean. It may be necessary to apply a dressing such as a Band-aid if the treated area is on a part of the body that may be knocked or rubbed.
When the blister dries to a scab it should not be picked, and applying a moisturising cream such as Vaseline may be helpful. The scab peels off after 5-10 days on the face, 3 weeks on the hand and up to 3 months on the lower leg where healing is often slow. Secondary infection is rare. When it does occur it may cause increased pain, swelling, a thick yellow blister, a discharge of pus or redness around the treated area. Come back to see the nurse or doctor if you are at all concerned about the appearance or feel of the treated area
What can I expect as the final result?
After a standard freeze of a solar keratosis, seborrhoeic keratosis or viral wart, the skin may eventually appear entirely normal without any sign of the original skin lesion.It may however result in a white mark of reduced pigmentation or a scar, particularly when freezing has been prolonged or deep. A white mark may sometimes follow a light freeze and may be particularly noticeable especially in those with darker complexions. The appearance often improves with time but may not return to the original colour. The condition may fail to clear with treatment or may recur at a later date. In this case further treatment may be recommended or alternative treatment such as surgical removal. Occasionally a hard freeze on the skin overlying a nerve that runs near the surface eg on the side of a finger, may result in numbness of the area of skin that that nerve supplies. The feeling nearly always returns to normal within a few weeks or months.
What will it cost?
Treatment carried out by one of our Practice Nurses normally costs $10-$20.00 depending on the extent of treatment carried out. Treatment by a Doctor is likely to cost up to the appropriate consultation fee.
PLEASE ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS TREATMENT.
ONLY AGREE TO HAVE THIS TREATMENT IF YOU ARE HAPPY THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS INVOLVED, WHAT IS TRYING TO BE ACHIEVED AND WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS AND RISKS.
