Transient cutaneous hypomelanosis after cryoanesthesia.

A superficial skin abscess in a young black female patient was incised after cryoanesthesia with tetrafluoroethane spray. A hypopigmented area was found at the first follow-up visit in the treated skin area; complete repigmentation occurred during the next 4 months. There are no other similar reported cases in the literature. Since long duration and possibly permanent hypopigmentation can occur after cryoanesthesia with tetrafluoroethane, especially in black people, this technique should be used with extreme caution.