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POSTED UNDER Laser Resurfacing Reviews

Using Liquid Nitrogen to Get Rid of Brown Spots/Sun Damage - Anaheim, CA

UPDATED FROM Misty H.
2 months post

Red Spots Still on Legs

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Misty H.December 3, 2013
$30
The red spots are still on my legs. The doctor said the legs will take longer to heal. I have been prescribed a fade cream to help the red spots fade. I am still optimistic that these spots will eventually fade and the brown spots will be gone. I am happy with the arms and shoulders.

Misty H.'s provider

Dr. Jeffrey Hicks

Misty H.

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Dr. Hicks was friendly and personable. He answered my questions. He likes to take the conservative approach which appealed to me because I wanted to minimize the risk of getting small white scars where the liquid nitrogen was used.

Replies (5)

brigtim
March 5, 2014
Your last post regarding your legs was in December and I'm just curious what the progress has been like since then.
Kimygirl
April 9, 2014
Can you tell us how costly the procedure was?
LauraDG
September 18, 2014
The n8trogin is in a tube and the doctor sprays it on the spots , it stings a little, but it s not bad at all it takes like 5 minutes!
jqw3827
May 29, 2014
You didn't really specify whether age spots or keratosis, but my experience with cryo on keratoses is that leg lesions take longer to heal. While I have lightening on the back and trunk, the leg spots actually darkened. It's about 8 mos later and faded but still darker. Now working on lightening via topicals.
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Misty H.
May 30, 2014
They are brown spots...I believe from sun damage. You are right about lesions on the legs taking longer to heal. I am pleased with the way my arms and shoulders. I have been using fade creams but the spot on my legs are still visible. They changed from small brown spots to red spots. I don't recommend doing this on the legs. I still have hopes they will fade...they do appear lighter than they were but I still notice them. I think they are fading so slowly it is not noticeable.
jqw3827
May 30, 2014
I have a friend whose derm will do cryo on facial age spots. The ones I've seen really don't. So I went the medi spa route for that. I've tried IPL, sensi peels, Clear & Brilliant, and micro dermabrasion and while faded, they are still there! Now using topicals. First derm was no encouraging: You are stuck with them. I don't take no for an answer - but in this case wonder if I simply waited too long or haven't gone "deep" enough. But I'm very fair and have sensitive skin. So figure slow and steady wins the race. This is my 2nd yr. Have added hands to the mix. They are as soft as a baby's cheek but the pesky age spots are still there tho faded.
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Misty H.
September 20, 2014
It is 10 months after my procedure. I am still very happy with the spots that were treated on my chest, shoulders and arms. But I don't recommend it for the legs. The spots the liquid nitrogen left on my legs did not fade. They did not turn white...they are darker then my skin tone and they are bigger than the sun spots that were being treated. It is interesting how the spots on my upper body healed so well...but not the legs.
jqw3827
September 20, 2014
Derm confirms leg wounds take much longer to heal. I had no other choice - seb keratoses. But after almost 1 yr am seeing fading on leg hyperpigmentation with spot peels and hydraquinone + retin A.
Karen86298
January 2, 2015
I'm in 60's, played tennis and sun lover, from 26 to 60, dermatologist used liquid nitrogen, every year, then PS did a lazor peel, in 6 months they were back, darker and larger, last August had Dual Fracture Lazor, PS said they were so deep, I would need at least three more lazor treatments, aparently the past procedures caused the discoloration to go deeper and darker. This was facial. I won't do legs or arms, I don't feel it's effective .
jqw3827
January 2, 2015
I've had keratoses on trunk and legs removed via cryo. I'm very fair and hypercpigment. Meaning I get left with a darker spot. They do eventually fade, but leg wounds take much longer to heal. Maybe 2 yrs. So for sun damage I think there are better modalities for me. But for keratoses liquid nitrogen still works best. They are raised whereas sunspots can go deep. And the key to those is staying out of the sun post treatment.
UPDATED FROM Misty H.
26 days post

4 Weeks post procedure

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Misty H.November 25, 2013
The spots on my legs are still very visible. They are very dark pink. It doesn't appear that much has changed since last week. I remain hopeful that the spots on my legs will fade

Replies (1)

x5gangy
January 16, 2019
Legs take much longer to heal. I have been battling this for over 15 years now. I just turned 70. I had many burned off by a laser when I was 55 by my doctor. That worked well but it still takes legs much longer to heal because of circulation. The older you get the worse that issue becomes. I have also had them burned off with Liquid Nitrogen. My being a sun worshiper all my life and also of Irish descent makes this an issue for me. I have also burned them off myself with Dry ice and I have tried a diluted acid you can purchase on Amazon. I am now using an Electric needle that is attracted to brown and will burn it. To get them to heal you must massage them daily as often as possible and also Colloidal silver gel helps to heal them and Aloe gel. Massage that into them a couple times a day and if you have a heated device to massage them with , that works even better because it improves the circulation. Good Luck. I hate them and will continue to battle them.
cpot
August 14, 2019
What method has worked the best for you? My doctor told me liquid nitrogen could actually hyperpigment the spots on my legs even more. What kind of electric needle are you using? I am a 52 yr old former sun lover with fair skin as well and my lower legs are a mess with these spots!
UPDATED FROM Misty H.
19 days post

3 Weeks post treatment

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Misty H.November 17, 2013
I am pleased with the results on my shoulders and arms. The treated spots on my arms are small and pink and fading nicely. The treated spots on my legs are still pretty big and noticeable. The jury is still out on my legs. I know it can take possibly months for the final results to be known so I will keep my fingers crossed that the spots on my legs fade.

Replies (1)

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Musie
November 19, 2013
Hi Misty! Very interesting review this is. I have the exactly kind of the same brown sports on my back, my chest, my arm, my legs, my face and neck, so I'd like to give it a try on my skin and see what comes out of it, could you please give me a tip on how to apply or to use this Nitrogen and how often?
lisamuller
January 15, 2014
Get an AFT laser treatment instead of IPL. AFT is more advanced and takes less sessions to get done. Don't do the Nitrogen, because it can cause white spots.
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