Cryopen Precare, Aftercare & Consent

Precare, Aftercare & Consent

Cryopen is the latest technology for cryotherapy (icy cold temperatures). By using nitrous oxide gas (N2O) freezing down to -89 degrees, we can treat benign lesions on the skin’s surface with pinpoint accuracy.

By using a temperature -89 degrees C, the Cryopen enables the skin to freeze to -45 degree. This causes the liquid inside the lesion’s cell to become shards of ice, and the cell membrane to rupture, thus destroying the cells. This is an extremely fast process that does not allow the body to protect itself during the treatment time; ensuring results.

A wide variety of benign lesions can be treated with cryotherapy, but it is most commonly used to remove:

1. Skin Tags
2. Warts/Verrucae’s
3. Milia
4. Pigmentation
5. Cherry Angioma’s

During the procedure the area freezes and turns white. After this white area thaws, a flushing occurs and the area will turn red and a weal will form. Approximately 2 - 4 hours after being frozen the weal may turn into a blister which may last from 3-5 days then begin to form a scab. This scab will fall off on its own in 1-2 weeks. Depending on the extent of the freeze and tissue area, a new scab may form and the process will repeat. The lesion will be completely healed in 4 weeks, again depending on the extent of the freeze and tissue area. This is when you will be due to come back for your second session.
After primary healing occurs, the area will be lighter than surrounding areas due to loss of melanocytes. Melanocytes are very cold sensitive dying at -5 degrees and below.

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PRE CARE

Please ensure you discontinue the below 3 days prior to your appointment;

-The use of Antihistamines

-The use of any active topicals on the area we are treating
(I.e. Retinal, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid etc)

Purchase Savlon Advanced Healing Gel.

Apart from the above, no preparation is required for most skin lesions. However to gain optimum results you are recommended to treat warts and verrucas as follows:-

Soak for 5 mins every day for one week prior to your appointment
Gently file the surface every day after soaking for one week prior to your appointment

Further treatment may be required if the wart/verruca is large or has been present for a few years to ensure no viral cells remain.

*Please ensure you have thoroughly read all Contraindications below*

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CONSENT

Treatment including post-treatment and risks:

Treatment lasts from 5-25 seconds, lesion dependent.
Initial slight discomfort, skin will feel as if it has stung by nettles for 10-60 minutes.
Try not to cover treatment site if possible.
Swelling will occur round the site for a few hours. This is normal.
Stinging for 10-60 minutes post treatment. Painkiller may be taken if necessary.
Scabs may appear a few days after treatment.
Do not pick, scratch or rub scabs or burst blisters as scarring may occur. Do not take any antihistamine for 48 hours the day before treatment day and 48 hours after. The treatment is partly based on histamine action.
Lesion will shed after 4 -14 days, but can last over 4 weeks.
Healing takes up to 4 weeks in most cases.
Temporary skin colour change (skin darkens) often occurs, but in darker skins may be permanent.
Use SPF 50 on new skin when lesion has shed. There will be new pink skin underneath. This will gradually re-pigment to your skin’s natural colour.
If healing is not as expected and redness or pain is present please contact clinic or your Doctor as you may have contracted an infection.

Contra-indications:

Not suitable for pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Agammaglobulinemia (inherited cold intolerance, higher risk of infection.
Cold uticaria. (Hives when cold)
Concurrent dialysis treatment.
Collagen vascular disease.
Autoimmune diseases.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Temporal Arthritis.
Scleroderma (cranial arthritis, Giant cell arthritis)
Immunosuppression, immunodeficiency disorders. (high infection risk)
Multiple myloma (Cancer starting in bone marrow plasma cells)
Pyoderma Gangrenosum ( ulcerating/necrotic condition, usually found on legs.)
Platelet deficiency.
Human T-cell Lymphotropic virus III.
Lymphademoopathy associated virus.
Form of Creutzfieds Jakob Disease, CJD, TSE, vCJD, nvCJD.
Dermal fillers under the site to be treated

I understand that the treatment may involve risks of complication or injury from both known and unknown causes, and I freely assume those risks. Prior to receiving treatment, I have been candid in revealing any condition that may have a bearing on this procedure.

I consent and authorise all therapist’s at Skin by Paige Alexandra to use all products and equipment that make up the Cryopen Treatment on me. I certify that I have read this entire informed consent and I understand and agree to the information provided in the form. My questions regarding the procedure have been answered satisfactorily.

I hereby release all therapist’s at Skin by Paige Alexandra from all liabilities associated with this procedure. This consent is valid for all of my Cryopen Treatments in the future as well.

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WHAT TO EXPECT | AFTERCARE

What to expect from all Cryopen treatments:

Healing takes up to 6 weeks in most cases. But can take up to 6 months in others
Temporary skin colour change. The area can darken, lighten or turn pink in colour. Skin that has lightened or turned pink in colour can take up to 6 months to re-pigment
The histamine in the area treated will create an itchy sensation for about ten minutes, do not worry this – it is perfectly normal.
The area treated will look inflamed and can also be red.
Blistering will more than likely happen. You will have signed the consent form to show that you are aware of this. The blister may last anything from a few hours to a few days dependant on the area to be treated. If a blister does appear; Leave it alone don’t pop it, it will go down on its own…If it pops; weeping may occur, you can use a non-alcoholic baby wipe to remove any debris from the area affected should the blister burst. It is also advisable to use a smear of Savlon Advanced Healing Gel onto it twice a day. An adhesive dressing such as a plaster can be used to cover the area.

What you should expect from your lesion during the healing process?

Skin Tags:
These turn black at the base and drop off over a period of one to six weeks. Larger skin tags 3mm+ may need a second freeze. · If the area does become tender please use Savlon twice a day and a plaster can be used to cover the area.

Warts/Verrucae:
May need more than one treatment. It is recommended if they remain, that warts and verrucas may be retreated after 4 weeks following your first treatment. There is no specific aftercare, apart from if the wart or verruca blisters as described above.

Milia:
As these are superficial keratin filled epidermal cysts these normally flatten and disappear with Cryotherapy. There is no need to do anything other than follow the advice for blisters if one appears.

Pigmentation/Cherry Angiomas.
The treated area will become raised, slightly inflamed and look like a bee sting. This is perfectly normal, it will go down within 24 hours. Over the next 24 hours the area will go darker and create a small crust on the surface, do not pick off. The crust can last up to 7 days, sometimes longer. When it naturally falls off you will see new skin (shiny pink) this is not scarring. It will re pigment over the following weeks / months depending on how quickly your skin heals. Apply Savlon Advanced Healing Gel to encourage this.

General healing expectations:
If the small crust has not fallen off after four weeks please wait until it has done before contacting the clinic. Skin sometimes takes longer to regenerate. If the skin being treated is tanned please remember it will remove the tan and re pigment to the original skin colour. Any treatments that do not heal after 8 weeks should be reviewed by your doctor or dermatologist. If your immune system is in any way compromised, this may affect healing or possibly mean that the area treated may need further treatment. This may be as a result of a condition that you are not actually aware of or that has been formally medically diagnosed.

Aftercare:

Initial slight discomfort, skin will feel as if it has stung by nettles for up to 60 minutes.
Try not to cover treatment site if possible to allow air
Swelling will occur round the site for upto 24 hours. This is normal.
Stinging for 60 minutes post treatment. Painkiller may be taken if necessary.
Scabs may appear a few days after treatment - Do not pick, scratch or rub scabs or burst blisters as scarring may occur.
Do not take any antihistamine for 72 hours after. The treatment is partly based on histamine action.
Use SPF 50 on new skin when lesion has shed. There will be new pink skin underneath. This will gradually re-pigment to your skin’s natural colour.

After 4 hours has passed, Apply Savlon Advanced Healing Gel to the site twice a day, everyday until it has healed.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR GP IF THE TREATED AREA IS WEEPING 2 WEEKS FOLLOWING TREATMENT.