Age Spot Removal with Liquid Nitrogen?

Question

I went in to the dermatologist today, with a long list of questions and things that I would like to improve. I mentioned an age spot that bothers me- she then proceeded to pick up a can of liquid nitrogen and blast my spot. Has anyone ever heard of this age spot treatment?

Steven Hacker, MD · Answer

Liquid nitrogen or cryotherapy or cryosurgery is frequently used and commonly accepted by dermatologists as an effective treatment for a variety of skin growths. The advantage to cryosurgery is it is effective for thicker benign unsightly growths whereas laser does not effectively remove thick "hyperkeratotic" growths. The other advantage is that it is typically safe, fast, and inexpensive.
Some of the disadvantages of cryosurgery are the short term "pain" associated with treatment to the spot treated as well as the risk of "hypopigmentation" or "lightening" of the skin in the spot treated.

Gary R. Culbertson, MD · Answer

Jane,

	There are other options such as Laser Ablation of these age spots but, the service is not covered by most insurance carriers, Medicare, Medicade, etc. In short you pay for this type of procedure as a cosmetic or aesthetic service.

	Gary R Culbertson, MD, FACS

Age Spot Removal with Liquid Nitrogen?

Answers (2)