From the Guidelines
Liquid nitrogen is a recommended treatment for skin tags and irritating skin lesions through cryotherapy, with a high success rate and minimal side effects when performed by a healthcare professional. This treatment involves applying extremely cold liquid nitrogen (-196°C) to the skin tag, which freezes the tissue and causes it to die and fall off within 1-2 weeks. For skin tag removal, a dermatologist typically applies the liquid nitrogen using a spray device or cotton swab for 10-30 seconds, depending on the size of the tag, as seen in studies such as 1. The procedure may cause brief discomfort, stinging, or burning during application, and the area might blister, turn red, or swell afterward.
Important Considerations
- After treatment, it is essential to keep the area clean and avoid picking at it while it heals.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help manage any discomfort.
- Cryotherapy works by causing ice crystal formation within cells, disrupting cellular metabolism and blood supply to the tissue.
- While effective, this treatment should be performed by a healthcare professional, as improper use of liquid nitrogen can cause excessive tissue damage, scarring, or nerve damage, as noted in 1.
- People with diabetes, poor circulation, or certain skin conditions may not be good candidates for this treatment.
Treatment Outcomes
- The success rate of cryotherapy for skin tags and irritating skin lesions is high, with complete clearance rates varying according to the duration of freeze and the number of treatments, as seen in 1.
- A study comparing cryosurgery with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in 193 patients indicated an overall 75% complete response rate for cryosurgery, with a higher success rate for thick lesions, as reported in 1.
- Another study using a double freeze–thaw cycle reported a 68% response rate, highlighting the importance of the treatment protocol, as mentioned in 1.
From the Research
Liquid Nitrogen Use for Skin Tags
- Liquid nitrogen therapy can be used to treat benign skin lesions, including skin tags, with few complications when the correct technique is used 2.
- Cryotherapy is an efficient method to treat various cutaneous lesions, including skin tags, and can be performed using liquid nitrogen or other freezing agents 2, 3, 4.
Efficacy of Liquid Nitrogen for Skin Tags
- A study evaluating the efficacy of a cryogenic device for skin tags found that 64.3% of skin tags treated with the device completely disappeared, with half of the skin tags cleared after one treatment 5.
- The study also found that the cryogenic device was safe, painless, and well-tolerated, with 72% of subjects satisfied with the results 5.
Safety and Contraindications of Cryosurgery
- Cryosurgery is a safe and effective procedure for treating various skin lesions, including skin tags, with few contraindications 3, 4.
- Potential adverse effects of cryosurgery include bleeding, blistering, edema, paresthesia, and pain, as well as less common effects such as tendon rupture, scarring, alopecia, atrophy, and hypopigmentation 4.