Leishmaniasis treatment. Liquid nitrogen being applied with a cotton swab to treat skin lesions on the face of a man with leishmaniasis. He has both the cutaneous (skin) and the mucocutaneous (membrane) forms of this disease. The latter has caused extensive damage to his nose. The liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the skin lesions, a type of treatment known as cryotherapy. The cold temperature kills the tissue and can result in the lesions healing. The disease can also be treated with drugs. Leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania sp. protozoan parasites. They are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected sandfly. Photographed in Ethiopia.