Freezing a keloid off, also known as cryotherapy, is a common treatment for keloids, which are thick, overgrown scars that can form after an injury. Many people wonder if freezing a keloid is painful. Here is a quick overview of whether freezing keloids hurts:
Freezing Keloids: Quick Answers
– Freezing keloids with liquid nitrogen does involve some pain and discomfort during and after the procedure.
– The level of pain experienced can vary depending on factors like the size of the keloid and a person’s pain tolerance.
– Many describe the sensation as a burning or stinging feeling as the extreme cold is applied to the skin.
– Pain typically peaks during freezing but may linger for a few hours or days after.
– Medications and ice packs can help manage pain after cryotherapy.
– Most agree transient pain is worth it for long-term keloid reduction and improvements in appearance.
What is Keloid Cryotherapy?
Keloids form when scar tissue grows excessively after an injury like a cut, burn, or piercing. They extend beyond the original wound site and do not regress over time like normal scars.
Cryotherapy is a common treatment that uses extreme cold to damage the tissue and restrict blood flow to keloids. This halts their growth and causes them to eventually shrink and soften.
The most common cryotherapy method for keloids is liquid nitrogen cryosurgery. Liquid nitrogen is applied directly to the surface of the keloid with a cotton swab or spray device. This freezes and destroys the targeted skin tissue.
Does Freezing Hurt During the Procedure?
Many patients report feeling intense cold, stinging, burning, and/or aching pain as the liquid nitrogen is applied to their keloid. This is normal.
The level of pain experienced during cryosurgery depends on several factors:
- Size of the keloid – Larger keloids tend to be more painful to freeze than smaller ones.
- Location on the body – More sensitive areas like the face or neck may feel more pain.
- Length of freezing time – Longer freeze times increase exposure to the extreme cold.
- Individual pain tolerance – This varies from person to person.
While being frozen, the treated area may blanch and take on a waxy, white appearance. Many describe the sensation as painful burning or stinging. The procedure usually lasts only a few minutes for each treated area.
What Does Pain Feel Like After Cryosurgery?
The peak pain during freezing usually subsides quickly once the liquid nitrogen is removed. However, the area often remains painful in the hours and days following cryotherapy.
The residual pain after keloid freezing may feel like:
- Throbbing
- Stinging
- Sharp, piercing pain
- Burning
- Tingling
- General soreness
The treated skin may look red, swollen, and blistered. Many patients describe the pain as similar to a severe sunburn. It may hurt more when the area is touched.
Post-treatment discomfort is usually worst in the first 1-2 days. It generally starts improving within a few days but can last up to a week or more until the skin heals.
Pain Management After Cryotherapy
Medications can help relieve pain after keloid freezing. Common options include:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen
- Lidocaine creams
- Prescription pain medicines
Other tips to manage discomfort include:
- Applying ice packs to treated areas
- Staying hydrated
- Avoiding irritants and friction on the skin
- Wearing loose clothing over treated areas
- Keeping treated areas elevated if possible
- Distractions like books, movies, or music
Talk to your doctor if pain is severe or not improving with conservative self-care measures. Occasionally, prescription-strength treatments are needed to keep patients comfortable after cryosurgery.
Is the Pain Worth It?
Most keloid patients tolerate the transient pain well and report the freezing is ultimately worth it. While uncomfortable, the pain from cryotherapy is temporary.
Freezing is considered one of the most effective therapies for minimizing the appearance and symptoms of keloids. Results tend to be very cosmetically pleasing once keloids flatten out after treatment.
Cryotherapy helps keloids by:
- Halting scar tissue growth and progression
- Softening and flattening thick, raised keloids
- Improving mobility if keloids are restrictive
- Reducing symptoms like itching or tenderness
- Minimizing appearance of keloids
Most patients tolerate short-term discomfort well knowing it leads to long-term improvements in their keloid scars. The majority are glad they underwent cryotherapy despite the temporary pain.
How Long Does Post-Treatment Pain Last?
On average, the worst pain following keloid cryosurgery lasts about 1-3 days. However, this depends on factors like:
- Size of treated area – Larger areas tend to have more prolonged pain
- Number of freeze cycles performed – Multiple freezes increase pain duration
- Location on the body – More sensitive regions may have lingering pain
- Depth of freezing – Deeper freezing penetrates more nerves
- Individual pain tolerance – Some are more impacted than others
Here is a general timeline of how long pain lasts after cryotherapy:
| Timeframe | Pain Level |
|---|---|
| During freezing | Severe, peak pain |
| Day of treatment | Moderate to severe discomfort |
| Days 1-3 | Discomfort progressively improves but remains moderate |
| Days 4-7 | Mild lingering discomfort possible |
| 1-2 weeks | Residual mild tenderness may remain |
| 2+ weeks | Little to no pain in treated area |
Scabs and blisters may still be present at 2 weeks but internal healing continues. Complete healing can take 4-6 weeks.
Does Freezing Hurt Less Over Multiple Treatments?
It usually hurts less each time a keloid is frozen. Why? Because each round of cryotherapy damages and shrinks the scar tissue.
With progressively smaller keloids, there is less tissue to freeze. This means:
- Shorter freezing time required
- Less exposure to the extreme cold
- Less severe pain during and after
Additionally, nerves become somewhat desensitized after repeat exposure to the cold. While freezing will never be completely painless, the discomfort often decreases with each round.
Here is how pain may progress with multiple cryotherapy sessions:
| Treatment # | Pain Level |
|---|---|
| 1 | Severe |
| 2 | Moderate to severe |
| 3 | Mild to moderate |
| 4+ | Mild |
Of course, individual results vary. Those with very low pain tolerance may not experience significant pain reduction with additional treatments.
Does the Type of Cryotherapy Affect Pain?
Yes, the method of freezing can impact the level of discomfort:
- Liquid nitrogen – Considered the gold standard. Can cause significant pain but works well for minimizing keloids.
- Cryopen – Uses nitrous oxide to freeze tissue. Slightly less painful than liquid nitrogen.
- CryoPen – Handheld device with nitrous oxide cartridges. Less painful but may require more treatments.
- CryoScar – Metal device cooled with liquid nitrogen. Moderately painful.
- CryoShape – Uses carbon dioxide snow to freeze. Usually less painful than liquid nitrogen.
Talk to your dermatologist about the pros and cons of each method. While alternatives may hurt less per session, more treatments are sometimes required. Liquid nitrogen remains the most effective for minimizing large or raised keloids.
Does the Body Part Treated Change the Pain?
Yes, certain body areas tend to be more sensitive and painful to freeze than others. Areas that typically hurt the most include:
- Face
- Neck
- Joints (knees, elbows, etc.)
- Hands and fingers
- Feet
- Shins
- Chest
Areas that usually have more tolerable pain with freezing:
- Back
- Abdomen
- Buttocks
- Arms
- Thighs
Again, individual pain tolerance makes a difference. Discuss concerns about specific body parts with your provider.
Tips to Minimize Discomfort from Keloid Cryo
While some degree of pain is expected, the following can help reduce discomfort from keloid freezing:
- Apply topical lidocaine 30-60 minutes before freezing
- Take OTC pain medicine before the procedure
- Use distractions like music during the procedure
- Avoid caffeine before freezing as it amplifies pain
- Stay hydrated after to ease post-treatment discomfort
- Use cold compresses after to numb the area
- Take prescribed pain medications as directed
Discuss concerns and pain management options with your doctor before the first cryotherapy session. Some chilling sensation is normal, but severe pain can often be avoided.
Conclusion
Freezing with liquid nitrogen is an effective keloid treatment, but does involve transient pain and discomfort. Many describe the sensation as an intense burning, stinging, or throbbing feeling.
While freezing is quite painful, most tolerate the discomfort well knowing it leads to significant flattening and improvement in their keloids. The worst pain is temporary. OTC and prescription medications can help manage any lingering pain after cryosurgery.
Talk to your dermatologist about what to expect and how to minimize discomfort. With appropriate preparation and pain control, most find cryotherapy worth the short-term pain for the long-term aesthetic and symptomatic benefits.