Are you looking to heal faster after cryotherapy and return to your routine quickly? It’s no secret that it takes 5-6 weeks to recover from cryotherapy completely. But what if you heal in a shorter period?
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Cryotherapy is a popular treatment for removing skin lesions such as common warts — a frequent indication for cryotherapy, seborrheic warts, and seborrheic keratoses.
However, the skin may experience various changes in the healing stages, such as blisters, pink skin, and scabs, making the recovery process challenging.
But don’t worry! With the right strategies and proper care, you can speed up the healing and recover in just 3-4 weeks.
In this blog post, we’ll explore expert tips to speed up the healing from cryotherapy and help you recover faster.
Let’s get ready to bid farewell to the post-cryotherapy blues!
Freezing to Flourishing: Cryotherapy Stages of Healing
Cryotherapy involves exposing the skin to extremely low temperatures, which can cause damage to the skin. The skin gets reddish and swells up immediately.
However, the healing process begins right after the cryotherapy treatment. For the skin to heal completely, it may take a few days or weeks.
1. Inflammatory Stage
It is the first stage of the healing process after cryotherapy. During this stage, the skin may experience swelling and redness — a sign that the treatment is successful.
Additionally, blister formation may occur as a result of the inflammatory response.
The swelling and redness will cease after 2-3 days. However, if the blisters start fluid or bleeding, bandage them up — otherwise, let them heal naturally.
Remember, don’t perforate the blisters – it can cause the healing process longer. Cryotherapy blisters healing time is 7-10 days after appearance.
2. Proliferative Stage
This stage is characterized by forming new tissue, vital for skin repair. Scabbing may also occur during this stage as the body works to protect the damaged area.
Usually, scabs start forming after 2-3 days of treatment.
Though these scabs will last a few weeks, you can regularly use Vaseline or Aquaphor and leave the spots naked to speed up healing.
3. The Maturation Stage
Maturation is the final stage of the healing process after cryotherapy. Scabs fall off during this stage, and new skin replaces damaged tissues.
After cryotherapy, taking care of the skin in every stage of the healing process is essential. Proper skin care can help reduce the duration of each stage of the healing process and prevent scarring.
Surviving Cryotherapy: Dealing with Skin Sensitivity After Treatment
As we previously mentioned, the skin may experience various changes in the healing stages — such as blisters, pink skin, and scabs.
Here are some tips from experts for post-cryotherapy skincare that you can follow to speed up the healing from cryotherapy.
Avoid anything irritating the skin — such as perfumes, lotions, and makeup.
Keeping the skin moisturized can help prevent dryness and cracking. Apply a moisturizer that is free of fragrances and chemicals.
Protect the treated area from the sun by covering it with clothing or applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
Avoid using makeup on the treated area for at least 24 hours to prevent infection.
Scar No More: Minimizing Scarring After Cryosurgery
Scarring can occur after cryotherapy if you don’t properly care for the treated area. To reduce scarring, keep the skin moisturized and avoid picking at scabs.
Additionally, if you work in open areas, you should be careful about exposing the treated area to sunlight as it can cause further damage.
Liquid Nitrogen Burn
By using nitrogen, your skin undergoes extreme cold temperatures during cryotherapy treatment.
Liquid nitrogen can cause a burn, which can be painful and take a while to heal.
Liquid Nitrogen Burn Healing Time
Liquid nitrogen burns healing time varies at different rates depending on their severity. Typically, it can take 1 to 3 weeks for the skin to heal fully.
Post-Treatment Pampering: What to Put on Skin After Liquid Nitrogen
After a liquid nitrogen treatment, you must keep the skin moisturized and protected from the sun. However, we recommend aloe vera gel to help soothe the skin and reduce inflammation.
It is worth noting to avoid picking at scabs or applying antiseptics that can irritate the skin, such as perfumes, lotions, or Dettol. Antiseptics treat Infected wounds, but they are toxic to new skin cells and can delay healing.
Can I Wear Makeup After Cryotherapy?
Experts recommend avoiding makeup on the treated area for at least 24 hours after cryotherapy. This is to prevent infection and allow the skin to heal correctly. Once your skin has healed – you can resume using makeup as usual.
From Bumpy to Beautiful: Seborrheic Keratosis Cryotherapy Before After
Cryotherapy can be used to remove the seborrheic keratosis. During the procedure, liquid nitrogen freezes the growth, and the seborrheic keratosis cells fall off within a few weeks.
Actinic keratosis can also be treated by cryotherapy. A study suggests that cryotherapy has high efficacy in treating actinic keratoses.
But after cryotherapy, scarring may occur — and you should keep the skin moisturized to reduce scarring and speed up the healing process.
FAQs
What Should You Avoid After Cryotherapy?
After cryotherapy, you should avoid anything irritating the skin, including dressing, makeup, or antiseptic. Experts recommend using just normal water for gentle wash during the healing period.
How Long Does it Take for Skin to Heal After Cryotherapy?
The healing time for cryotherapy can vary depending on the severity of the treatment and the location of the treatment.
Typically, the skin can take 3 to 6 weeks to heal fully.
How Do You Prevent Scarring After Cryotherapy?
To prevent scarring after cryotherapy, experts recommend keeping the skin moisturized.
Moreover, you must avoid picking at scabs and exposing the treated area to sunlight.
How Do I Take Care of My Skin After Liquid Nitrogen?
After liquid nitrogen treatment, if the skin starts burning or creates blisters, you need to keep it moisturized and apply aloe vera gel to help soothe the skin. Aloe vera reduces burn and inflammation caused by liquid nitrogen.
Wrapping Up!
Cryotherapy is an effective treatment for various skin conditions, but it can cause damage to the skin.
In that case, you should understand the cryotherapy stages of healing for proper skin care and speed up recovery. You should follow proper aftercare instructions to reduce scarring and ensure a successful outcome.
We hope this article has helped you speed up healing from cryotherapy. If you have any concerns about the healing process after cryotherapy, it is best to consult with your doctor for personalized advice.
