Cryotherapy

Compare To Other Treatments

What Is It?

Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy hypertrophic (raised) scars by either applying liquid nitrogen on the outside of the scar or by injecting liquid nitrogen directly into the scar.

Cryotherapy is normally repeated multiple times (3 or more) in 4-week intervals. You should see gradual results with each session. After your last session, your scar(s) should continue to improve. However, in some cases, scars may grow back after treatment.

Results

Results
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
80% of patients achieved a good (>50%) or excellent (>75%) improvement in scarring
Expand for result statistics
Good or Excellent Response
80% of patients achieved a good (>50%) or excellent (>75%) improvement in scarring
Scar Height Reduction
Average 77% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS total score
Average 59% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS pigmentation score
Average 42% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS height score
Average 59% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS pliability score
Average 84% reduction in scarring
Mean improvement in VSS vascularity score
Average 45% reduction in scarring
▸ Based on These Clinical Studies & Trials
▾ Based on These Clinical Studies & Trials
  1. Zouboulis, C. C. & Zouridaki, E. Cryosurgery as a single agent and in combination with intralesional corticosteroids is effective on young, small keloids and induces characteristic histological and immunohistological changes: a prospective randomized trial. Dermatology 237, 396–406 (2021).
  2. Zouboulis, C. C., Wild, T., Zouboulis, V. A. & Har-Shai, Y. Intralesional cryosurgery of keloids: required treatment hold time. Br J Dermatol 184, 173–175 (2021).
  3. Zaouak, A., Benmously, R., Jannet, S. B., Hammami, H. & Fenniche, S. Efficacy and Safety of Contact Cryosurgery in the Treatment of Earlobe Keloids. Skinmed 19, 357–360 (2021).
  4. Salem, S. A. M., Abdel Hameed, S. M. & Mostafa, A. E. Intense pulsed light versus cryotherapy in the treatment of hypertrophic scars: a clinical and histopathological study. J Cosmet Dermatol 20, 2775–2784 (2021).
  5. Muthanna, A. M. & Al-Qubati, Y. A. Cryotherapy: A Successful Monotherapy for Earlobe Keloids. Malays Fam Physician 15, 83–85 (2020).
  6. Kumar, B. P. et al. A comparative study of therapeutic efficacy between intralesional steroids and cryotherapy in the management of keloids. Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences 19, 19–24 (2020).
  7. Bijlard, E. et al. Intralesional cryotherapy versus excision with corticosteroid injections or brachytherapy for keloid treatment: randomised controlled trials. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 71, 847–856 (2018).
  8. Azimi Alamdari, H., Davarnia, G., Herizchi Ghadim, H. & Asal, S. Intralesional cryotherapy versus intralesional corticosteroid and 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids: a clinical trial. Crescent Journal of Medical and Biological Sciences 5, 215–221 (2018).
  9. Roitman, A., Luntz, M. & Har-Shai, Y. Intralesional cryosurgery for the treatment of keloid scars following cochlear implant surgery and removal of cholesteatoma. Eur J Plast Surg 39, 307–312 (2016).
  10. Van Leeuwen, M. C. E. et al. Intralesional cryotherapy for treatment of keloid scars: a prospective study. Plast Reconstr Surg 135, 580–589 (2015).
  11. Jannati, P., Aref, S., Jannati, A. A., Jannati, F. & Moravvej, H. Comparison of therapeutic response of keloids to cryotherapy plus intralesional triamcinolone acetonide or verapamil hydrochloride. J Skin Stem Cell 2, (2015).
  12. Abdel-Meguid, A. M., Weshahy, A. H., Sayed, D. S., Refaiy, A. E. M. & Awad, S. M. I. Intralesional vs. contact cryosurgery in treatment of keloids: a clinical and immunohistochemical study. Int J Dermatol 54, 468–475 (2015).
  13. Har-Shai, Y. Intralesional cryosurgery for enhancing the involution of hypertrophic scars and keloid – a new fundamental adjunctive wound healing therapy based on experimental and clinical data. Cryobiology 66, 345–346 (2013).
  14. Anchlia, S., Rao, K. S., Bonanthaya, K. & Vohra, D. Keloidoscope: in search for the ideal treatment of keloids. J Maxillofac Oral Surg 8, 366–370 (2009).
  15. Har-Shai, Y. et al. Intralesional cryosurgery for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids following aesthetic surgery: the results of a prospective observational study. Int J Low Extrem Wounds 7, 169–175 (2008).
  16. Sharma, S., Bhanot, A., Kaur, A. & Dewan, S. P. Role of liquid nitrogen alone compared with combination of liquid nitrogen and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in treatment of small keloids. J Cosmet Dermatol 6, 258–261 (2007).
  17. Har-Shai, Y. et al. Intralesional cryosurgery enhances the involution of recalcitrant auricular keloids: a new clinical approach supported by experimental studies. Wound Repair Regen 14, 18–27 (2006).
  18. Zouboulis, C. C. et al. Modification of a device and its application for intralesional cryosurgery of old recalcitrant keloids. Arch Dermatol 140, 1293–1294 (2004).
  19. Har-Shai, Y., Amar, M. & Sabo, E. Intralesional cryotherapy for enhancing the involution of hypertrophic scars and keloids. Plast Reconstr Surg 111, 1841–1852 (2003).
  20. Yosipovitch, G., Widijanti Sugeng, M., Goon, A., Chan, Y. H. & Goh, C. L. A comparison of the combined effect of cryotherapy and corticosteroid injections versus corticosteroids and cryotherapy alone on keloids: a controlled study. J Dermatolog Treat 12, 87–90 (2001).
  21. Gupta, S. & Kumar, B. Intralesional cryosurgery using lumbar puncture and/or hypodermic needles for large, bulky, recalcitrant keloids. Int J Dermatol 40, 349–353 (2001).
  22. Zouboulis, C. C., Blume, U., Büttner, P. & Orfanos, C. E. Outcomes of cryosurgery in keloids and hypertrophic scars. A prospective consecutive trial of case series. Arch Dermatol 129, 1146–1151 (1993).
  23. Rusciani, L., Rossi, G. & Bono, R. Use of cryotherapy in the treatment of keloids. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 19, 529–534 (1993).

Side Effects

Side Effects
Medium-high side effects and adverse reactions

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