Alternative Treatments: Cold And X-Ray

Cryotherapy ('Cold Treatment')

Cryotherapy in acne involves the freezing of inflamed lesions with liquid nitrogen or dry ice slush made by powdering dry ice and mixing it with acetone and sulphur. It is claimed that freezing helps the nodules and cysts to heal faster and may also have an effect on scarring be rearranging the scar tissue. Freezing also has a peeling action.

The results of cryotherapy in the hands of some reputable dermatologists have been very good. However, it is not something for the inexperienced dermatologist to use. Over application may for example produce severe scarring. The other danger is that it may induce pigmentation in darker complexioned individuals.


Radiotherapy (X-Ray Treatment)
This is hardly used nowadays because of risk of cancers. Thyroid cancers have been reported many years after patients received head and neck radiotherapy. Radiotherapy works in acne by reducing the size of the sebaceous gland and sebum production. This however, is not permanent and the glands reappear again in three to four months requiring further treatment.


NO MORE PIMPLES, A SELF-CARE GUIDE, DR. LIM KAH-BENG