Cryotherapy in dermatology: therapeutic effect of cold
The mechanism of action of freezing on living tissues
Ancient Egyptians used cold to reduce pain and inflammation in the body. Hippocrates indicated not only the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect, but also recommended the use of cold for bleeding. Today we will talk about modern cryotherapy and its use in dermatology and cosmetology.
In the second half of the 20th century, many different cryosurgical devices (stationary, desktop and manual) were invented, in which different substances are used as a refrigerant: freon and liquid nitrogen, Peltier elements and nitrous oxide, carbonic acid snow and helium. Although nowadays there are many cryosurgical devices, all of them can be grouped into large groups:
- devices with a "cryospray" type applicator - for applying a cooling agent to formations undergoing destruction by means of a liquid (or gas) jet;
- devices with an applicator of the "cryoprobe" type - its tip is cooled with the help of a refrigerant from the inside, the formation is affected by applying the probe directly to the skin using the so-called contact method.
Until now, there is no comprehensive explanation of the mechanisms of cold destruction of living cells and tissues, but a number of hypotheses supported by a large amount of factual material have been proposed. Numerous studies have made it possible to establish five main factors that lead to the irreversible destruction of cells during freezing.
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