An estimated one in every two adults will develop at least one skin tag in their lifetime. Some will develop lots of skin tags in places which may cause them to feel embarrassed about their outward appearance. While skin tags are considered harmless, they can become irritated, bothersome, and cause you to lose confidence. People with skin tags often seek out methods of treatment to get rid of them. Cryotherapy is what doctors have been using worldwide for many decades to treat skin tags. Let’s take a closer look at what cryotherapy is and how it can help you get smooth skin again.
Other Skin Tag Treatments
Before we talk about what cryotherapy is, let’s discuss the other methods of treatment available to you. When you visit a dermatologist to have skin tags removed, they may offer different treatment options to you. Skin tags can be cut away using a sharp blade or burned off using cautery. As you can imagine, these treatment methods are typically not pain-free. If the skin tag area is large, numbing agents may be used when cutting or cauterizing. You can also find over-the-counter liquid treatments that are not FDA-approved and may only irritate the skin without actually getting rid of the skin tag.
When Was Liquid Nitrogen First Used?
Shortly after World War II, liquid nitrogen became commercially available to the public. Dr. Ray Allington was thought to have first used this substance in his medical practice in 1950. He described using cotton swabs dipped in liquid nitrogen to treat a variety of skin diseases. His work was so successful that it has become common practice for the treatment of skin tags and other non-cancerous lesions. The methods of using cold temperatures to remove lesions have become known as cryotherapy or cryosurgery, which literally means ‘cold handiwork.’
What Is the Cryotherapy Science for Skin Tags?
While a dermatologist might offer you various skin tag treatments, many dermatologists will simply go straight to cryotherapy for skin tags because it’s quick, pain-free, and highly effective. To put it simply, cryotherapy for skin conditions is a treatment in which a freezing liquid is applied to destroy the targeted skin cells. The temperatures needed to effectively destroy skin lesions are less than -50°C (-58°F). Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is what doctors most commonly use in their practices. Liquid nitrogen can reach temperatures of up to -195°C. Other liquids that are commonly used in cryo for skin tags are nitrous oxide, which can reach -79°C (-128°F), and dimethyl ether which can reach -55°C (-67°F). Dipsticking with cotton swabs or spray cryotherapy is what dermatologists typically use in their application methods.
What Is Cryotherapy for the Whole Body?
Cryotherapy is also used to treat other ailments. Whole-body cryotherapy is growing in popularity among celebrities and athletes. Whole-body cryotherapy is used to ease pain, encourage an anti-inflammatory response, and release endorphins. Localized cryotherapy is similar to whole-body cryotherapy, but liquid nitrogen is applied to specific areas that need treatment, like areas of the body that may be affected by arthritis.
What Is the Aftermath of Cryotherapy for Skin Tags?
Patients often feel little pain during the application of the freezing agent. In just seconds, the procedure is over. Within 10-14 days, the skin tag will fall off and heal fully. Cryotherapy with dimethyl ether has low risks of infection, scarring, and skin discoloration. To reduce any chance of scarring, patients should use sunscreen or clothing to protect the healing area from sun damage. Once your skin tag is gone, it will not grow back. If you develop a skin tag in the same area, it may just mean you are prone to skin tags there.
