Skin Lesions Explained: What Can CryoPen Treat?

Finding a new lump, bump, rough patch or area of pigmentation on your skin can naturally make you wonder what it is — and whether it can simply be removed.

The term skin lesion describes any area of skin that looks or feels different from the skin around it. Some lesions are raised, some are flat, some are pigmented, and others may be rough, soft or vascular in appearance.

Many common skin lesions are benign (non-cancerous). However, different types of lesion can sometimes look similar, and not every mark or growth should be treated cosmetically without appropriate assessment.

At SR Integrated Health & Wellness Clinic in Hartlepool, CryoPen is one treatment option we offer for selected benign skin lesions.

But our approach starts one step earlier.

Treatment starts with knowing when not to treat

When somebody visits us because they want a skin lesion removed, the first question shouldn’t simply be:

“Can we freeze this?”

The more important question is:

“Is this lesion appropriate for cosmetic treatment?”

That distinction matters.

Cryotherapy destroys the tissue being treated. Therefore, if a lesion is unusual, changing, concerning or cannot appropriately be considered suitable for treatment, simply removing it cosmetically is not the right next step.

There may therefore be different outcomes following an assessment:

Suitable for CryoPen
Cryotherapy may be discussed along with expected results, healing, risks and aftercare.

Appears benign but CryoPen may not be the most appropriate option
Another treatment route or further advice may be more suitable.

Uncertain or concerning
We do not proceed with cosmetic treatment, and appropriate medical assessment may be recommended.

Being told that we don’t think a lesion should be treated is therefore not a failed consultation. Sometimes, not treating is the most appropriate outcome.

What exactly is a skin lesion?

“Skin lesion” isn’t a diagnosis.

It is an umbrella term used to describe an area of skin that is different from the surrounding skin.

That could include something as familiar as a skin tag or wart, an area of pigmentation caused by years of sun exposure, or one of many other changes that can occur within the skin.

Skin lesions can differ in:

• colour
• shape
• size
• texture
• thickness
• whether they are flat or raised
• whether they have changed over time
• whether they cause symptoms

This is one reason photographs and online descriptions should not be used to diagnose your own lesion.

Why do we develop skin lesions?

There isn’t one single cause.

Ageing

Our skin changes throughout life. Some benign growths become increasingly common as we get older, including seborrhoeic keratoses.

Sun exposure

Ultraviolet exposure accumulates over time and can contribute to pigmentation changes such as solar lentigines — commonly called sun spots or age spots.

Importantly, sun exposure is also associated with skin cancer, which is another reason a new or changing lesion should not automatically be assumed to be a harmless age-related change.

Friction

Skin tags commonly occur in areas where skin rubs against skin, clothing or jewellery.

Viral infection

Common warts and verrucae are caused by infection with strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). This makes them quite different biologically from a skin tag or age-related growth, even though all may be described generally as “skin lesions”.

Individual biology

Genetics, skin type, age and individual biological differences can all influence the types of marks and growths we develop.

Common benign skin lesions

Understanding some of the differences between common lesions can be useful, but descriptions should be regarded as general information rather than a way to self-diagnose.

Skin tags

Skin tags are common benign growths.

They tend to be soft and skin-coloured or slightly darker and may hang from the skin on a small stalk. They frequently occur around areas of friction, including the neck and underarms.

Skin tags are usually harmless.

So why remove one?

You may choose treatment because a tag repeatedly catches on a necklace or clothing, becomes irritated through friction or shaving, or simply because you dislike its appearance.

A harmless lesion doesn’t necessarily need removing. Treatment is a personal choice once suitability has been established.

Suitable skin tags may respond well to CryoPen treatment.

Warts and verrucae

Warts are caused by HPV and often have a firmer, rougher surface than a skin tag.

A verruca is essentially a wart occurring on the foot. Because body weight pushes against it, its appearance can differ from a raised wart elsewhere on the body.

Warts can sometimes resolve without treatment, but persistent lesions may be frustrating.

Cryotherapy is one established approach to wart treatment. Because viral lesions can be stubborn, repeat treatment may be needed.

Seborrhoeic keratoses

Seborrhoeic keratoses are very common benign growths, particularly as we get older.

They can vary considerably in colour — from pale or skin-coloured through to brown or very dark — and often develop a waxy, rough or characteristic “stuck-on” appearance.

Some people have only one or two; others develop many.

Because pigmented lesions can have different causes and appearances can overlap, assessment is particularly important before treatment.

Selected seborrhoeic keratoses may be suitable for cryotherapy.

Solar lentigines — sun or age spots

Solar lentigines are flat areas of increased pigmentation associated with cumulative UV exposure.

They’re often called age spots, liver spots or sun spots and frequently appear on areas that have received considerable sun exposure over the years, such as the face and backs of the hands.

Selected solar lentigines may be suitable for CryoPen.

However, a new or changing pigmented lesion should not simply be assumed to be an age spot.

Small vascular lesions

Some benign lesions arise from small blood vessels and therefore appear red or purple rather than brown or skin-coloured.

Certain small vascular lesions may be suitable for CryoPen treatment, depending on their type, size, location and individual assessment.

When should a skin lesion be medically assessed?

This is perhaps the most important section of this article.

Most everyday skin changes are not cancer, but there are circumstances where seeking medical assessment is more appropriate than booking cosmetic removal.

You should seek appropriate medical advice about a mole that has changed in size, shape or colour, or one that becomes painful, itchy, inflamed, bleeding or crusty.

A new or unusual mark that hasn’t gone away after a few weeks should also be assessed.

Similarly, a growth or area of skin that is getting bigger, changing colour or texture, or that continues to hurt, itch, bleed, crust or scab warrants medical attention.

What about the ABCDE rule?

You may have heard of the ABCDE approach to monitoring pigmented lesions:

A — Asymmetry
One half looks different from the other.

B — Border
Edges may appear irregular or uneven.

C — Colour
There may be variation in colour rather than one uniform shade.

D — Diameter
Size can be relevant, although melanoma can also be small.

E — Evolving
The lesion changes over time.

This can be a useful reminder to pay attention to your skin, but it is not a home diagnostic test. A lesion does not have to meet every point on a checklist to warrant assessment.

If something is new, changing or unusual for your skin, seek appropriate medical advice rather than trying to identify it from photographs online.

What about moles and CryoPen?

This deserves a section of its own.

We do not advocate simply freezing an unidentified mole because somebody would prefer it gone.

Moles require appropriate assessment before considering cosmetic treatment. If a mole has changed in size, shape or colour, or becomes painful, itchy, inflamed, bleeding or crusty, it should be medically assessed.

Cosmetic convenience should never take priority over appropriate assessment.

What is CryoPen?

CryoPen is a precision cryotherapy device.

Cryotherapy simply means treatment using very low temperatures. Rather than cutting a lesion away, cryotherapy applies extreme cold to targeted tissue.

CryoPen allows the practitioner to direct the freezing treatment precisely at the selected lesion.

What actually happens to the skin when it is frozen?

Cryotherapy isn’t simply “making the lesion cold”.

Rapid freezing damages the targeted cells and causes controlled destruction of the unwanted tissue.

The body then has to respond and heal.

That’s why a CryoPen-treated lesion doesn’t necessarily look perfect the moment you leave the clinic.

In fact, the treatment area may temporarily look more noticeable before it looks better.

What does CryoPen treatment feel like?

Individual experiences vary.

During treatment you may experience an intense cold, sharp or stinging sensation. There may also be some residual stinging afterwards.

The length of treatment depends on the lesion being treated, including its size, depth, type and location.

Treatment itself can be quick, but “quick” shouldn’t be confused with insignificant — the skin has still undergone a controlled freezing injury and needs time to recover.

What happens after CryoPen?

Understanding the healing process beforehand helps set realistic expectations.

Immediately following treatment, the area may become red or swollen.

A blister can sometimes develop. Over the following days, the treated area may crust or form a scab.

The tissue then gradually heals and the scab separates naturally.

Do not pick the scab. Disturbing healing tissue can increase the risk of marking or scarring.

Depending on the site and depth of treatment, healing can take a number of weeks.

Will CryoPen leave a scar?

No ethical treatment should be described as completely risk-free.

Scarring following cryotherapy is uncommon, but it is possible.

Changes in pigmentation can also occur. The treated area may become lighter (hypopigmentation) or darker (hyperpigmentation) than the surrounding skin.

These changes often improve with time but can occasionally persist.

Pigment alteration is an especially important consideration in darker skin tones because pigment-producing cells are sensitive to cold injury.

Other possible effects of cryotherapy can include blistering, temporary altered sensation and, less commonly, infection.

These considerations are part of deciding whether the benefit of removing a benign lesion outweighs the potential downsides of treatment.

Does one CryoPen treatment remove the lesion?

Sometimes — but not always.

Some small superficial lesions may respond to one treatment.

Others may require further treatment because of their depth, thickness, location or biological behaviour.

Warts and verrucae can be particularly persistent because they are viral lesions.

It is therefore better to approach treatment with realistic expectations rather than a guaranteed number of sessions.

Cryotherapy can also fail to clear a lesion completely, and some lesions can recur.

If the lesion is harmless, why treat it at all?

A benign lesion doesn’t automatically require treatment.

People choose to remove benign lesions for many reasons. A skin tag might continually catch on jewellery. A raised lesion might become irritated by a bra strap, waistband or shaving. A wart might be uncomfortable or persistent. An obvious lesion may simply affect someone’s confidence.

Those can all be valid reasons for discussing treatment.

But there is also nothing wrong with leaving an asymptomatic benign lesion alone.

Our role isn’t to persuade every person with a skin lesion to remove it. It is to help you understand your options and, where treatment is appropriate, make an informed decision.

Why consultation matters

An internet search can tell you what a skin tag usually looks like.

A photograph can show you what a seborrhoeic keratosis might look like.

Neither should give you false confidence that every lesion matching that description is suitable for cosmetic treatment.

At SR Integrated Health & Wellness Clinic, we want the consultation to be part of the treatment — not simply an administrative step before it.

We consider the lesion, its history, treatment suitability, expected response, potential risks and your reasons for wanting treatment.

And where something doesn’t appear appropriate for cosmetic treatment, we don’t treat simply because the technology is available.

CryoPen skin lesion treatment in Hartlepool

If you have an unwanted skin tag, wart, verruca, seborrhoeic keratosis, sun spot or another lesion that you believe may be benign, you can arrange a Skin Lesion Assessment with SR Integrated Health & Wellness Clinic in Hartlepool to discuss the appropriate next step and whether CryoPen may be suitable.

You do not need to decide for yourself whether CryoPen is the right treatment before getting in touch.

The starting point is assessment.

Frequently asked questions about CryoPen

Can CryoPen remove skin tags?

Cryotherapy can be used for suitable skin tags. Individual suitability depends on the lesion and assessment.

Can CryoPen treat warts and verrucae?

Cryotherapy is used for warts and verrucae. Viral lesions can be persistent, so repeat treatment may be required.

Can CryoPen remove age spots?

Selected solar lentigines or sun spots may be suitable for cryotherapy. Pigmented lesions should be appropriately assessed before cosmetic treatment.

Can CryoPen remove moles?

A mole should not simply be frozen because it is unwanted. Appropriate assessment is important before considering cosmetic treatment, particularly if a mole is new or changing.

Does CryoPen hurt?

Treatment can produce an intense cold, sharp or stinging sensation. Some residual stinging may continue for a short period afterwards.

How long does CryoPen take to heal?

Healing varies according to the type, depth and location of the lesion and the treatment performed. Redness, swelling, blistering and scabbing can occur, and complete healing may take several weeks.

Can CryoPen cause pigmentation changes?

Yes. Both lighter and darker pigmentation can occur after cryotherapy. Changes often improve but can sometimes be persistent.

Can the lesion come back?

It can. Cryotherapy may not completely clear every lesion, and recurrence is possible.

How do I know whether my lesion is suitable?

That’s what the consultation is for. If there is uncertainty or a reason why cosmetic treatment would not be appropriate, we may advise against CryoPen and recommend an appropriate next step.

Book a Skin Lesion Assessment

If you would like to discuss an unwanted skin lesion and whether CryoPen may be appropriate, arrange a consultation with:

SR Integrated Health & Wellness Clinic
Northbrook Court
Hartlepool
County Durham
TS26 0DJ

Telephone: 07864 398363
Email: Contact@SRIntegratedHealth.co.uk

Important: This article provides general information and is not intended to diagnose a skin lesion or replace assessment by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. If you have a new, changing, bleeding, non-healing or otherwise concerning skin lesion, seek appropriate medical advice.