Spray versus intralesional cryotherapy for keloids.

BACKGROUND: Keloids may follow local skin trauma or inflammation leading to pruritus, pain, restriction of movement or cosmetic disfigurement.

OBJECTIVES: To compare between the efficacy and tolerability of spray versus intralesional cryotherapy for keloids.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with keloids were randomized to treatment with spray cryotherapy (group I) or intralesional cryotherapy (group II). Swada and Sone scoring of scars was performed at treatment and follow-up (6 months). Histopathological examination was done before and after end of treatment sessions.

RESULTS: Intralesional cryotherapy showed greater efficacy than spray cryotherapy. Fewer treatments were required with intralesional cryotherapy than with spray cryotherapy.

CONCLUSION: Intralesional cryotherapy was more effective and tolerable modality for treatment of keloids than spray technique with greater internal freezing area.