Nitrogen Application in Cryotherapy

Introduction

Cryotherapy is a dermatological treatment used by dermatologists and skin care experts to treat surface skin lesions by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. Although other cryogens like carbon dioxide snow, Dimethyl ether and propane or DMEP were also used earlier, their use has now grown obsolete and liquid nitrogen is most commonly used.

What Type Of Skin Lesions Are Treated With Cryotherapy?

Lesions that are usually treated by cryotherapy include actinic keratosis, viral warts and sebborhoeic keratosis or senile warts. Specialist dermatologists sometimes also freeze small skin cancers such as superficial basal cell and in situ squamous cell carcinomas (intraepidermal carcinoma, Bowen disease), but this treatment is not always successful, so careful follow-up care is necessary.Freezing is one of the most suitable way of getting rid of many different kinds of surface skin lesions, asit is relatively inexpensive, safe, and reliable. However, it is also important that the skin lesion has been properly diagnosed. Cryotherapy should not be used to treat melanoma or any undiagnosed pigmented lesion that could be melanoma.

What Happens During The Treatment?

Cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen, which has a temperature of –196°C, involves the use of a cryospray, cryoprobe or a cotton-tipped applicator. The nitrogen is applied to the skin lesion for a few seconds, depending on the desired diameter and depth of freeze. The treatment is repeated in some cases, once thawing has completed. This is known as a ‘double freeze-thaw’.

Cryotherapy, although it seems like a futuristic sort of treatment, is being used in many dermatological clinics and hospitals in India. The larger hospitals and clinics, which require larger amounts of liquid nitrogen, often buy liquid nitrogen generators or liquid nitrogen plants, apart from medical oxygen generators, which are requisites in a hospital.