Cryopen

CryoPen® is an advanced, high-precision cryotherapy device that delivers a micro-fine jet of pressurised, ultra-cold liquid nitrous oxide (-89°C) directly to unwanted skin lesions. Unlike old-fashioned liquid nitrogen methods that are messy and can easily damage surrounding healthy skin, CryoPen's pinpoint accuracy targets only the abnormal tissue layers. The extreme sub-zero temperature causes the water inside the cells to crystallise, causing targeted necrotic tissue destruction (cell death) within seconds. The treated lesion then naturally scales over, crusts, and detaches cleanly over the following weeks, leaving healthy, smooth skin beneath.

Most lesions take 2 to 30 seconds, depending on their size and location.

One treatment is sufficient for the majority of lesions. However, some deeper lesions may take several treatments to get results.

CryoPen® treatment is remarkably quick—typically lasting between 5 and 30 seconds per lesion—making it highly tolerable without the need for local anaesthetic injections. When the ultra-cold nitrous oxide gas hits the tissue, you will feel a localized stinging, sharp biting, or burning sensation resembling a cold ice cube pressed firmly against the skin. This feeling peaks for just a few seconds during the freeze cycle. Once the cycle ends, the sting quickly subsides into a mild, warm throbbing or itching sensation that resolves completely within an hour.

At our doctor-led Mapperley clinic, we regularly utilise CryoPen® to safely remove a wide range of benign (non-cancerous) superficial skin blemishes that are no longer funded for removal on the NHS. These include:

• Skin Tags (Acrochordons): Small, harmless growths of skin commonly found around friction zones like the neck, underarms, and eyelids.

• Cherry Angiomas: Bright red, vascular spots caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels.

• Seborrheic Keratoses: Warty, crusty, or pigmented age spots that appear on the torso, face, or scalp.

• Milia: Tiny, stubborn keratin-filled cysts trapped beneath the surface of the skin.

• Solar Lentigines: Flat brown marks commonly referred to as sunspots or age spots.

• Warts and Verrucas: Stubborn viral epidermal growths on the hands or feet.

Yes, absolute safety is our unchanging clinical mandate. We never treat or freeze any mole or pigmented brown lesion without definitive medical triage. If you have a mole, a seborrheic keratosis, or an irregular sunspot you wish to remove, you must first undergo our integrated Private Mole Check pathway. This involves capturing high-resolution dermoscopic images which are securely uploaded and assessed by our partner UK Consultant Dermatologists. Once we receive official, written confirmation that your lesion is 100% benign and safe to treat, your CryoPen® session can proceed immediately.

Immediately post-procedure, the treated area will look red, slightly raised, and inflamed due to the body's natural response to the freezing stimulus. Over the next 2 to 5 days, a localised crust or scab will form, and vascular lesions like cherry angiomas may temporarily turn darker or purple. It is absolutely vital that you let this scab detach naturally and never pick it, to prevent scarring or infection. Healing timelines vary depending on tissue depth: skin tags typically flake away within 7 days, while deeper blemishes like warts may take up to 2 weeks. Once the scab sheds, a smooth patch of pink skin is revealed, which will naturally fade to blend with your surrounding skin over a few months.

• The Sensation: The procedure is incredibly quick, typically lasting between 5 and 30 seconds per lesion, making local anaesthetic completely unnecessary. You will experience a localized stinging or cold biting sensation that peaks for a few seconds before fading into a mild, warm tingling.

• The Healing Process: Post-treatment, the area will appear slightly red and inflamed. Over the next 2 to 5 days, a temporary scab or dark crust will form. It is vital that you allow this scab to shed naturally and never pick it, ensuring a scar-free, seamless cosmetic result. Skin tags generally detach within a week, while deeper lesions like warts can take up to 14 days to fully clear.