From the Guidelines
Cryotherapy is effective for treating pedunculated moles or acrochordons (skin tags).
Treatment Overview
While the provided evidence does not directly address the treatment of pedunculated moles or acrochordons, cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen has been used to treat other skin lesions, such as molluscum contagiosum, with similar efficacy to other treatments like 10% potassium hydroxide 1.
- The application of cryotherapy for skin tags typically involves a short duration of 5-10 seconds, repeated as needed for a maximum of 3 freeze-thaw cycles.
- A single treatment session may be sufficient, but follow-up appointments may be necessary to assess response and potential need for repeat treatment.
- Post-procedure discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Considerations
It is essential to note that cryotherapy may be associated with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation or scarring, although this is uncommon 1.
- The decision to use cryotherapy should be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the size, location, and cosmetic concerns of the skin tag, as well as the patient's overall health and skin condition.
- As with any treatment, it is crucial to weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks and consider alternative treatment options if necessary.
From the Research
Effectiveness of Cryotherapy for Pedunculated Mole (Skin Tag) or Acrochordon (Skin Tag)
There are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as the provided studies do not discuss the effectiveness of cryotherapy for pedunculated mole (skin tag) or acrochordon (skin tag). The studies provided focus on various other medical topics, including:
- Renal angiomyolipoma treatment 2
- Adrenal incidentaloma diagnosis and management 3
- Characterization of hypoechoic focal liver lesions using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography 4
- Differentiation of angiomyolipomas from renal cell carcinomas using tumor size and ultrasound radiomics 5
- Endometrial thickness threshold for prompting biopsy in postmenopausal women without vaginal bleeding 6 These studies do not provide relevant information on the effectiveness of cryotherapy for pedunculated mole (skin tag) or acrochordon (skin tag).