Advice for patients treated with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy)

Information for patients having treatment with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) at North Bristol NHS Trust. 

Your treatment

• Liquid nitrogen is a very cold substance. When applied to the skin it usually produces a blister.
• It causes a stinging discomfort that is not severe, and local anaesthetics are not used.
• The treated area will become red, might be tender, and a blister may form.
• Liquid nitrogen treatment often needs to be repeated every few weeks.

Caring for your skin after treatment

• You do not need to apply any creams or ointments to the treated area,
• You do not need to cover the treated area unless it is constantly being rubbed. If so a dry dressing or sticking plaster can be used. Remove the dressing if it becomes wet as this can cause infection.
• If the treated area becomes tense or starts to expand, it can burst with a clean, flamed, or boiled (cool) sterile needle and covered with a dry dressing.

You can take a simple pain relieving medication such as paracetamol if you have an discomfort or pain.

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published April 2025. Review due April 2028. NBT002658