Cryotherapy for Age Spots

What is Cryotherapy for Age Spots?

Age spots, also called liver spots, are darkened areas that develop on the skin over time. These spots typically appear in areas that receive frequent sun exposure, such as the face, shoulders, hands and arms. Age spots can vary in size and may be tan, dark brown or black in color.

Cryotherapy is a procedure that uses extreme cold to lighten the appearance of age spots and make them less noticeable. Cryotherapy can be applied locally with liquid nitrogen, or over the entire body using nitrogen gas.

Benefits of Cryotherapy for Age Spots

Cryotherapy is a quick and effective way to treat age spots. This is a drug-free treatment, making it a good option for people who want to avoid taking medications. Compared to skin-lightening creams, which can take several months to work, cryotherapy usually reduces the appearance of age spots in as little as a single session. Post-cryotherapy healing is also faster than more invasive surgical procedures.

People with multiple age spots may want to consider whole body cryotherapy over the localized option. Whole body cryotherapy treats several age spots at once, whereas localized cryotherapy may require multiple sessions. Whole body cryotherapy might also be less costly than the localized option because it can fade many spots with just one session.

How to Prepare for Cryotherapy

Prior to a cryotherapy session, be sure to:

• Remove makeup if treating age spots on the face

• Tell the doctor or technician about current medications, as some drugs can increase cold sensitivity

• Avoid taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or blood thinners

• Talk to the doctor or technician to fully understand risks, outcomes and aftercare

What to Expect After the Procedure

Serious post-cryotherapy side effects are relatively rare. Common side effects can include:

• Redness

• Swelling

• Pain

• Crusting

• Scarring

It is common for blisters to form approximately three to six hours after the procedure. Avoid breaking these blisters to prevent infection and promote faster healing. To minimize scarring, apply petroleum jelly to the treated area daily for two weeks or until fully healed.

Keep the area clean by gently washing with warm water and fragrance-free soap every day. After healing, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher to prevent age spots from reappearing.

How Many Treatments Are Needed?

Most people can expect a lightening of age spots after just one cryotherapy session. Very dark spots might require additional treatments before they fade completely.