Cryo Surgery

                           Use of Cryo surgery in Dermatology is not new. I am personally using different cryogenics to treat skin disorders for nearly 25 years. The use of cryogenics date back to ancient Egyptians of 2500 BC. The ancient Egyptians knew that application of cold sooths the trauma site and reduces inflammation. In 5th century BC Hypocrates recommended hypothermia to reduce pain , edema and hemorrhage and observed that freezing had anesthetic effect. Till today use of cryo surgery is on increase in spite several new therapeutic modalities developed like Lasers , Radio surgery etc. What has happened in all these years that more and more advanced equipments have been produced which can more accurately deliver the cryogen to the affected area and even monitor the tissue temperature at different depth of skin by using sensitive thermocouples to ensure and authenticate to exact destruction of the desired lesion in certain cases it is vital such as Basal cell carcinoma.
There are several cryogens such as Carbon dioxide snow , Nitrous oxide , Freon , and Liquid Nitrogen . and each has different cooling temperatures .The only cryogen used in dermatology is Liquid Nitrogen which a Temp. of -196 C ( Minus below zero ).
Indications for cryo surgery-
1. Warts ( Varrucae vulgaris )and Genital warts , Planter warts
2.Achrocordons ( Skin tags )
3. basal cell carcinoma
4.Granuloma pyogenicum
5.Molluscum contagioscum
6.Angioma and several other conditions