Cryotherapy and Cautery for Warts and Skin Tags in Denizli

Warts, skin tags, the brown raised spots that come with age and small red blood vessel spots are harmless, but they can be bothersome because of how they look, because they rub or because they bleed. These lesions can usually be removed without surgery, using freezing or burning methods. Which method is chosen depends on the type of lesion and where it is.

What Is Cryotherapy and How Does It Work?

In cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen at around -196 °C is applied briefly to the lesion with a spray or a cotton-tipped applicator. The sudden cold forms ice crystals inside the cells of the lesion and destroys them. The frozen area forms a scab within a few days, and when the scab falls off, healthy skin is revealed underneath.

During the procedure you feel a cold burning and stinging sensation; it does not last long. Numbing is usually not needed.

Which Lesions Can Cryotherapy Treat?

• Warts on the hands, feet and face
• Rough, scaly actinic keratoses that form on sun-exposed skin
• Seborrhoeic keratoses, the brown raised spots that increase with age
• Some small benign lesions

Topics such as how warts spread and the treatment options other than cryotherapy are covered under diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases.

What Is Cautery (Electrocautery) Treatment?

Cautery means burning or cutting tissue with the heat produced by an electric current passing through a fine-tipped device. Because the heat seals small blood vessels at the same time, there is little bleeding during the procedure. The area is first numbed with a local anaesthetic; apart from the brief sting of the numbing injection, the procedure is usually well tolerated.

How Are Skin Tags (Acrochordons) Removed with Cautery?

Skin tags are soft, skin-coloured growths attached to the skin by a thin stalk, which appear in areas that rub, such as the neck, armpits, eyelids and groin. They can bleed and become irritated when caught on jewellery or clothing. Small skin tags are burnt off at the stalk with cautery, while larger ones are cut off after numbing. Several skin tags can be removed in a single session.

Cautery is also used for cherry angiomas, the small red raised blood vessel spots, as well as for some seborrhoeic keratoses and small warts.

Cryotherapy or Cautery: Which Is Right for Me?

Both methods are suitable for benign lesions, but their strengths lie in different areas. Because cryotherapy does not require numbing, it is practical for multiple warts and for children; thick warts may need several sessions. Cautery gives a result in a single session for skin tags on a stalk and for raised lesions with blood vessels. For some lesions the two methods are used together. We make the choice at the examination, according to the type, number and location of the lesions.

Why Is an Examination Needed Before Freezing or Burning?

Cryotherapy and cautery destroy the lesion and do not send any tissue for examination. For this reason they are used only on lesions confirmed as benign at the examination. A lesion whose colour, shape or speed of growth raises suspicion is not frozen; it is first examined with dermoscopy and, if needed, removed by biopsy and sent for pathology. This is why burning moles off at home or at beauty salons is unsafe.

How Does the Skin Heal After the Procedure?

1. In the hours after cryotherapy, the area may become red and swollen and a blister may form.
2. Within a few days the area dries out and a scab forms.
3. The scab falls off on its own within one to a few weeks, depending on the area.
4. A small scab also forms where cautery was done, and it heals in a similar way.

During this time, do not pick off the scabs, keep the area clean and dry, use the cream we recommend and protect the healing skin from the sun. If a blister is large or painful, get in touch with us.

What Are the Side Effects of Cryotherapy and Cautery?

The expected effects are temporary redness, blistering and scabbing. In addition, the healed area may become lighter or darker, a small scar may form, infection can rarely occur, and there may be temporary numbness from the effect on fine nerve endings. Because lightening of the skin can be more noticeable on darker skin, we adjust the dose accordingly on the face and visible areas. If you notice increasing pain, discharge or a fever while healing, get in touch with us.

Cryotherapy and Cautery in Denizli: Planning Your Treatment

At our clinic in Denizli, we first establish what the lesion is, then choose the freezing or burning method that suits you. Before the procedure we explain the healing process and aftercare, and if more than one session is needed, we plan the interval together. For a wart or a skin tag, you can book an appointment.