Seborrheic Keratosis (SK)
What is seborrheic keratosis?
Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a common benign skin growth that generally affects people over the age of 50. The tendency to develop these harmless lesions appears to run in families. Seborrheic keratoses can range in color, from light tan to dark brown or black. They range in size from very small to one inch across. Sun exposure may play a role in the development of these lesions.
Treatment is not always required for SKs, but many patients choose treatment because the lesion has become irritated or bleeds. Some patients seek to have the SK removed for cosmetic reasons. There are different treatments for SK, and sometimes a combination of treatments is employed. Cryotherapy, freezing the lesion, is an effective treatment. While traditionally medical providers used liquid nitrogen for cryotherapy, many providers now are choosing alternative portable cryotherapy devices. Hydrozid® is one such device.
About Hydrozid®
Hydrozid® combines traditional cryotherapy and modern aerosol technology. Hydrozid® provides instant, safe, and effective treatment of lentigo and a wide range of additional skin lesions.
Hydrozid® comes with a patented delivery system, contained in the spray head. The spray head was developed to ensure that a consistent, controlled spray is delivered every time. Hydrozid® contains the gas norflurane (R134a), which has been used in asthma inhalers for many years and is proven to be safe. Hydrozid® was developed by a family-owned pharmaceutical and medical device company in Denmark. It has been used successfully throughout Europe since 2013.
When applied to the skin surface, Hydrozid® generates temperatures between -58°F (-50°C) and -65.2°F (-54°C). This is well below the temperatures that result in cell death. The formation of intra- and extracellular ice crystals destroys the top layer of skin – without damaging the healthy tissue. Effective treatment is achieved through repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The procedure is very brief, effective, and patient friendly.
- Light, portable, and convenient
- No product waste
- Maintains consistent temperature
- Freeze-thaw method of treatment
- 100% pharma grade norflurane cryogen
- 3-year shelf life
Seborrheic keratosis treatment with Hydrozid®
Before initiating treatment with Hydrozid®, the provider should ensure there is no suspicion of the lesion being malignant. Healthcare providers can use the following CPT codes for billing seborrheic keratosis treatment with Hydrozid®.
CPT Code:
- 17000 (one seborrheic keratosis)
- 17003 (from 2 to 14 seborrheic keratosis)
- 17004 (15 or more seborrheic keratosis)
Hydrozid® is applied on the lesion from a distance of 2-3 centimeters. If the lesion covers a sizable area, circulating the stream within the specific area is advised in order to achieve even treatment of the whole lesion. For the treatment of minor lesions, use of the application template is recommended to protect the surrounding healthy tissue. Templates are included with Hydrozid® canister. The trigger should be squeezed gently to obtain a light, constant stream. The treated area turns white when ice crystals are formed. Allow to thaw for the recommended time and repeat the freeze-thaw cycle if needed.
Treatment time
The treatment time varies from one patient to another and depends partly on the location, thickness and appearance of the lesion as well as the patient’s skin type, age and other individual considerations. We always recommend making your own assessment on how to treat the specific SK and only regard the treatment times as general guidelines.
The product guidelines recommend an approximate total freeze time of 12 to 18 seconds, with freeze thaw cycles from 2×6 to 3×6 seconds.
See the Instructions for Use (IFU) for details on indications, contraindications, warnings, and cautions.
After Treatment
Patients should be informed that after treatment the area may be sore and in some cases swollen and dark in color. Tenderness will typically disappear within the first 24 hours after treatment. Use of makeup is not recommended until the treated area is completely healed. Patients should be told that a scab will form over the treated area, which is part of the healing process. The scab should not be scratched or touched. The treated area will in most cases be lighter than the rest of the skin; this will decrease over time.
If the treated area becomes dry, a fragrance-free moisturizer may be applied after washing the area with a mild fragrance-free soap. The use of creams containing glycolic acid or Vitamin C, and scrubs and tretinoin should be avoided for 7-10 days after treatment. Generally, we recommend the patient see their provider for follow-up 1-2 weeks after treatment to assess the healing and determine if additional treatment is needed.
Results After One Treatment
A patient’s seborrheic keratosis after one treatment with Hydrozid.
The patient still requires one more treatment – it is not the final result.
