Benign Skin Lesions: What They Are and When Cryotherapy Can Remove Them

There’s a category of skin change that most people develop from their thirties onwards, accumulate gradually through their forties and fifties, and accept as an inevitable part of ageing skin. Seborrhoeic keratoses, skin tags, solar lentigines, milia, cherry angiomas. They’re benign, they’re very common, and a large proportion of patients who present with them at consultation have simply assumed nothing can be done.

Something can be done. CryoIQ precision cryotherapy removes most of these lesions in a single brief treatment with no downtime and no scarring when performed correctly on the right lesion.

The qualifying phrase, the right lesion, is the most important part of that sentence. Before any treatment happens, assessment happens. Not every brown spot is a seborrhoeic keratosis. Not every dark mark can be treated without first ruling out something more significant. The first job at consultation isn’t to book treatment; it’s to confirm the diagnosis.

What Assessment Looks Like at LRC

When a patient presents with a skin lesion they’d like removed, the consultation begins with assessment, not booking.

I use the Observ 520 skin analysis system at LRC for skin assessment, which reveals lesion depth, pigment distribution, vascular patterns and surface characteristics under different light modes. Alongside this, I apply the standard clinical assessment framework for any pigmented lesion: the ABCDE rule.

Any lesion that shows concerning features is referred for dermatological or GP review before any treatment is considered. We do not treat lesions we haven’t confirmed are benign. The ABCDE features to watch for:

• A, Asymmetry: one half of the lesion doesn’t mirror the other
• B, Border: irregular, poorly defined, ragged or notched edges
• C, Colour: variation within the lesion including shades of brown, red, white, blue or black
• D, Diameter: greater than 6mm, or any rapid recent increase in size
• E, Evolution: change in size, shape, colour, symptoms, or behaviour over a short period, including itching, bleeding or crusting

If any of these features are present, the right next step is your GP or a dermatologist, not an aesthetic clinic. This isn’t a counsel of excessive caution; it’s the clinical standard, and no reputable clinic should deviate from it.

Seborrhoeic keratoses, the most commonly treated lesion, deserve special mention here. They’re entirely benign but can vary enormously in appearance, from flat, pale, mildly pigmented patches to raised, dark, warty growths. They can look similar to lentigo maligna or, in darker variants, to melanoma. When I’m not certain, I refer. That standard applies regardless of how confident the patient is about what the lesion is.

The Lesions We Treat

Once we’ve confirmed a lesion is benign and appropriate for cryotherapy, the following are within the range CryoIQ treats well:

Seborrhoeic keratoses (SKs). The waxy, “stuck-on” growths that increase with age and appear across the trunk, face, scalp, and hands. They’re caused by localised keratinocyte proliferation and have no relationship to sun exposure or malignancy, though they often appear in sun-exposed areas alongside other lesions. Many patients find them itchy, catching on clothing, or cosmetically distressing. CryoIQ removes them effectively in most cases in one session.

Solar lentigines. The flat brown spots caused by cumulative UV exposure, most commonly on the face, hands, forearms and décolletage. These are discussed further in the sun damage guide and the hyperpigmentation guide. For flat, clearly defined solar lentigines on lighter skin types, CryoIQ is a precise and effective removal method. For widespread, diffuse solar lentigines across a larger area, Lumecca IPL is often a more efficient approach. We discuss which suits the presentation at consultation.

Skin tags (acrochordons). Soft, fleshy, pedunculated growths that hang from a narrow stalk. Common at areas of friction: neck, axillae, groin, under the breasts. They’re completely benign, don’t become malignant, and don’t require removal medically. Many patients remove them because they catch on jewellery or clothing or because they find them uncomfortable. CryoIQ treats small to medium skin tags efficiently.

Milia. Tiny white or cream-coloured keratin cysts most commonly around the eyes, nose and cheeks. They aren’t infected and aren’t acne, though they’re often confused with both. They form when keratin becomes trapped beneath the surface. Some milia clear on their own; others persist indefinitely. CryoIQ can treat persistent milia that haven’t responded to exfoliation and active skincare.

Cherry angiomas (Campbell de Morgan spots). The small, bright red or purple vascular papules that are nearly universal in adults from the thirties onwards and increase in number and size with age. They’re clusters of dilated capillaries at the skin surface. Completely benign. CryoIQ treats them effectively; some patients also suit Lumecca IPL or the Cynosure Elite+ for vascular work depending on the number and location.

Viral warts. Common warts caused by HPV, most frequently on hands and feet. CryoIQ cryotherapy is an established treatment for warts, producing freezing of the infected tissue and immune activation. Multiple sessions may be required and clearance is not guaranteed, as wart response depends on the immune system as well as the physical destruction of tissue.

What CryoIQ Does

CryoIQ is a precision cryotherapy device delivering controlled, targeted freezing to individual lesions without affecting surrounding tissue. Unlike older cryotherapy methods using uncontrolled spray applicators, CryoIQ allows precise application to small or closely sited lesions, making it appropriate for facial work and areas near delicate structures.

The freeze-thaw cycle destroys cells within the target lesion. The body then clears the dead tissue over one to three weeks and the lesion resolves. For most benign superficial lesions, this process is clean and leaves no visible trace at the skin surface once healing is complete.

The treatment itself is brief, a matter of seconds per lesion, and most patients can have multiple lesions treated in a single appointment. Each lesion gets a carefully applied freeze of appropriate duration; the operator monitors the frost margin to ensure the freeze covers the lesion and not significantly beyond it.

What to Expect

During treatment, the sensation is a brief sting of cold, similar to touching something very cold or receiving a frozen aerosol burst on the skin. It passes within seconds. Most patients find it easily tolerable without any anaesthesia.

Immediately after:

• The treated area frosts white
• Within minutes: redness and a mild inflammatory response around the site
• In the hours following: possible formation of a small blister, particularly over joints or in areas where the skin is thin

In the days and weeks after:

• The blister, if it forms, dries and resolves without being popped. Popping it risks infection and impairs healing
• The lesion darkens and may become temporarily more noticeable before beginning to resolve
• Over one to three weeks: the treated lesion progressively lifts from the skin surface and resolves
• The skin beneath is typically slightly pink for a few weeks and then returns to normal

Most patients don’t need dressings unless the treated area is in a location likely to experience friction. Keeping the area clean and dry and applying a fragrance-free moisturiser is usually sufficient. Sun protection over the healing area is important to prevent any post-inflammatory pigment change while the skin is regenerating.

Skin Type Considerations

CryoIQ is most reliably used in Fitzpatrick skin types I to III. In darker skin types, Fitzpatrick IV to VI, the risk of post-inflammatory hypopigmentation is higher, because the freeze can disrupt melanocyte activity in the treated area, leaving a pale patch once the lesion resolves. This effect may be temporary or, in some cases, more persistent.

For patients with darker skin types presenting with benign lesions, we assess case by case and discuss the pigmentation risk at consultation. Alternative approaches, including laser, may carry a better risk profile for some lesions in some skin types.

What CryoIQ Cannot Treat

• Malignant lesions: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and other skin cancers require medical or surgical management. CryoIQ is for confirmed benign lesions only.
• Lesions with uncertain diagnosis: if we’re not certain what a lesion is, we refer first.
• Deep lesions: cryotherapy reaches only the superficial tissue. Lesions with a significant dermal component may not resolve completely.
• Scarring conditions such as acne keloidalis nuchae or hypertrophic scars: the approach to these differs and cryotherapy in the wrong context can worsen them.
• Large or multiple seborrhoeic keratoses across a wide area where IPL or a broader treatment approach would be more practical.

After Treatment: When to Contact Us

Get in touch if:

• The treated area becomes significantly more painful, red, warm or swollen after 48 hours, which may indicate infection
• The blister becomes very large or breaks accidentally
• The lesion doesn’t begin to resolve after three to four weeks
• You have any concern about the healing process

And separately: if you notice a lesion elsewhere on your skin that changes, itches, bleeds, or worries you in any way, see your GP. Cryotherapy for benign lesions is a cosmetic service. It doesn’t substitute for dermatological monitoring, and patients with multiple lesions, a history of skin cancer, or a family history of melanoma benefit from annual dermatological review regardless of whether they’re having cosmetic lesion removal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a seborrhoeic keratosis and a skin cancer?

Seborrhoeic keratoses are entirely benign growths caused by localised keratinocyte proliferation. They increase in number with age and have no malignant potential. They do, however, vary enough in appearance to occasionally look similar to more concerning lesions. Key distinguishing features of SKs include a waxy, “stuck-on” surface texture, a clearly defined edge, and a surface that can appear to sit above the surrounding skin rather than growing into it. Any lesion that shows atypical features, asymmetry, uneven colour, irregular borders, recent growth or change, warrants GP or dermatologist review before any treatment.

How many sessions will I need?

Most benign superficial lesions clear in one session. Some larger seborrhoeic keratoses, thicker warts, or lesions on certain body areas where freezing is harder to sustain may need a second session after four to six weeks. We’ll tell you at the appointment what to expect for each individual lesion. At the follow-up we review what has cleared and treat anything that needs a further cycle.

Does it hurt?

The sensation during treatment is a brief sting of cold lasting a few seconds per lesion. It’s over quickly and most patients find it very tolerable without any anaesthesia. The area may ache mildly for an hour or two afterward, similar to a bruise. Patients who are treating multiple lesions in a session may notice cumulative sensitivity, but overall the treatment is well tolerated.

Will the lesion come back?

For seborrhoeic keratoses and solar lentigines: CryoIQ removes the specific lesion treated. The tendency to develop new lesions elsewhere is not affected, so new ones may appear over time, as they would have regardless of treatment. For viral warts: recurrence is possible because HPV remains present in the surrounding tissue. Immune response determines whether cleared warts return. For cherry angiomas and skin tags: the treated lesion is gone, but new ones can develop elsewhere as part of normal skin ageing.

Can CryoIQ treat lesions on any skin type?

It’s most reliably used in Fitzpatrick skin types I to III. In darker skin types, there’s an elevated risk of post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, where the treated area remains paler than the surrounding skin once the lesion has resolved. For patients with skin types IV to VI, we discuss this risk at consultation and assess each lesion individually. Alternative approaches may offer a better risk-benefit profile for some presentations in darker skin.

How do I know if my lesion is safe to treat without seeing a GP first?

You often don’t, and the assessment is one of the things a consultation at LRC provides. We won’t proceed to treatment with any lesion we haven’t assessed and confirmed as benign. Applying the ABCDE rule to your own lesions gives a useful first filter: asymmetry, irregular border, colour variation, diameter over 6mm, or any evolution in size, shape or symptoms should prompt a GP review before a cosmetic consultation. If you’re uncertain, see your GP first.

What happens in the days after treatment?

The treated area is red immediately and may blister within hours. The blister, if it forms, should be left alone and allowed to dry and resolve, which typically happens over five to ten days. The lesion underneath darkens and lifts from the skin surface over one to three weeks before fully resolving. The skin beneath may be slightly pink for a few weeks. Keep the area clean, moisturised with a fragrance-free product, and protected from sun exposure while it heals.

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Related reading

• Hyperpigmentation: types and treatment
• Sun damage prevention and SPF guide
• Patient guide: Lumecca IPL
• Patient guide: Cynosure Elite+
• Dark spots on the body and hands
• What to expect at an aesthetic consultation
• Melasma: causes, types and treatment