Is cryosurgery used on age spots?
One source names freezing as an option for noncancerous age spots, and the name to look for is cryotherapy. Below is what one source says, followed by what it asks of you.
The answer in one line
Yes. my.clevelandclinic.org describes freezing this way: "Cryotherapy : This procedure uses liquid nitrogen to freeze noncancerous age spots and actinic keratosis."
What that passage asks of you
The passage sets one condition. The spots it names are noncancerous. Before you ask about freezing, a clinician has to tell you which kind of spot you have.
Steps before you book in the Saline area
- Point out the exact spot you are asking about, and mention whether it has changed.
- Ask the clinician whether the spot is noncancerous.
- Ask whether freezing, which the source calls cryotherapy, fits that spot.
- Ask what other options exist for the same spot, so you can compare them.
Related reading on skin color changes
A patch of darker skin is not always an age spot. To tell other color changes apart, read the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia on abnormally dark or light skin. www.aad.org also runs three pages on melasma that you can read alongside it: diagnosis and treatment, self-care and ways to make melasma less noticeable.
Who to ask if the wording is unclear
Ask the clinician who examines the spot. Bring the passage above and ask them to explain each term in it, such as noncancerous and actinic keratosis, in plain words before you agree to any treatment.