Abstract: An apparatus is described which is suitable for thermal treatment of the human or animal skin and underlying tissue, substituting ice frictions, and cold sprays. This cryoprobe is characterised by a Peltier module with a cold and a hot side. An electrical power supply drives the Peltier module. The cold side is mounted at a cooling head, by which the skin is treated, whereas the hot side is cooled by a heat dissipation element which is itself cooled by a cooling fluid. A temperature sensor in the cooling head allows to control the temperature of treatment. The cryoprobe may be controlled by a micro-controller or by a personal computer.