Cryotherapy is a medical treatment that uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy abnormal or unwanted tissue on the skin. In dermatology, it is commonly performed using liquid nitrogen, which is applied directly to the affected area.
This procedure is widely used to treat skin conditions such as warts, skin tags, sunspots, actinic keratosis, and some early skin cancers. The intense cold causes the targeted cells to freeze, break down, and eventually fall off as the skin heals.
Cryotherapy is a quick, minimally invasive procedure that is usually done in a clinic and requires little or no anesthesia. After treatment, the area may become red, swollen, or form a blister before healing over a few days to weeks.
It is considered a safe and effective treatment, but multiple sessions may sometimes be needed depending on the condition and size of the lesion.