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WOUND CARE INSTRUCTIONS – CRYOSURGERY & ELECTRODESSICATION
Cryosurgery involves using a cold spray, liquid nitrogen, to freeze a growth on the skin. Electrodessication involves burning a lesion on the skin. Dr. Rosenberger commonly uses cryosurgery to treat warts, seborrheic keratoses, and actinic keratoses. The cold spray freezes the skin and causes a microscopic separation of the skin. Depending on the extent of freezing and the area of the body that is treated, a visible blister may develop at
the cryosurgery site. A blister does not always form. If you are prone to bruising or are on blood thinners, the blister may fill with blood.
Please follow these instructions to ensure the best healing and least scarring at your cryosurgery site. Keep in mind that healing takes time and takes longer for areas furthest away from the heart.
• Cleanse the area in the bath/shower as you are cleansing the rest of your skin. An antibacterial soap used in the treated area would be helpful.
• Apply Vaseline, Aquaphor, or antibacterial ointment to the treated area a few times a day to keep the wound moist. The desire is to prevent any scab formation. The more moist you keep the lesion, the faster it will come off.
• You can apply a bandage if you like, but you do not need to apply a bandage.
• If a blister forms, try to not pop the blister. The blister can act as a natural bandaid while the skin beneath is healing.
• If you develop any more than a 1 inch rim of redness around the wound OR if you develop any persistent yellow oozing OR if you develop any foul odor in the wound, please call the office and ask to be seen as soon as possible for a wound check.
• Wounds on the face will heal faster than wounds on the limbs.
WOUND CARE INSTRUCTIONS – BIOPSY OR SURGERY
Please follow these instructions to ensure the best healing and least scarring at your biopsy and procedure site.
Keep in mind that healing takes time and takes longer for areas furthest away from the heart. Wound restructuring will continue to take place for several months after your surgery.
The approximate strength of the wound is 10% at 2 weeks, 25% at 4 weeks, 40% at 6 weeks and 80% at 8 weeks. The skin never reaches 100% after it has been injured. Limitation in activity and movement and stretch on the area (within reason to perform daily activities) will help prevent stretching of the scar.
• Remove the bandage when you get your next shower or bath or in 12 hours, whichever comes first.
• Cleanse the area in the bath/shower as you are cleansing the rest of your skin. An antibacterial soap used in the wound area would be helpful.
• Apply Vaseline, Aquaphor or antibacterial ointment to the wound a few times a day to keep the wound moist. The desire is to prevent any scab formation.
• You can apply a bandage if you like. You do not need to cover the spot.
• If you develop any more than a 1 inch rim of redness around the wound OR if you develop any persistent yellow oozing OR if you develop any foul odor in the wound, please call the office and ask to be seen as soon as possible for a wound check.
BIOPSY RESULTS
You will be asked to return to the office for your biopsy results. Due to patient privacy rules, we will not give results over the phone – NO EXCEPTIONS. If you cannot make it to the office, we can either schedule a televisit or mail your results. More importantly, Dr. Rosenberger wants to have the opportunity to discuss the diagnosis in
person and check the wound. It should take approximately 2 weeks for us to receive your biopsy results. We will ask you to schedule a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks. You will receive a separate bill from the lab and doctor who processes and reads your biopsy.