The skin is the largest organ in the body, and its flexible yet tough quality allows for easy movement while preventing breakage and tearing. It is vital in maintaining the body’s overall health, serving as the first protective barrier from viruses and bacteria.
Chronic wounds, or breakages in the skin that take an unusually long time to heal, can occur during skin cancer due to the cancerous cells blocking tiny blood vessels, which leads to permanent damage if left untreated. These wounds can result in serious complications, including infections, dead tissue, fungus growth, and ulcers.
Simple methods of treatment include Silicone Foam Dressings which are bandages that use silicone to surround the wound and absorb the wound fluid; and antibiotics and antiseptics, where bacteria are killed to prevent infections. If the condition continues, the patient could be hospitalized for specialized treatment. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a chamber, which increases the amount of oxygen sent to the damaged cells, allowing the injury to heal faster. Vacuum-assisted wound closure is done by creating a vacuum where the skin has been broken, creating suction and closing the wound.
Unfortunately, these methods often contain side effects including pain, infection, and tissue toxicity. One of the most prevalent is antibiotic resistance, which occurs when antibiotics are overused to treat illnesses. Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria, and they do it too well — they wipe out the beneficial bacteria in the body as well, making room for any strong stragglers that survive the dose to reproduce. Over time, the bacteria will evolve and survive this dose of antibiotics, resulting in a stronger type of medication required to eliminate them. It’s a positive feedback loop — the stronger the antibiotics you take, the stronger the bacteria becomes.
Cold Plasma
Plasma is often called the fourth state of matter, which is created by heating gas to such a high temperature that electrons are released from the atom. It has the ability to conduct electricity and react to magnetic fields. In nature, plasma naturally occurs in the form of lightning, where electrons detached from water molecules are shot toward the ground, their energy released in the form of light.
Due to the naturally-occurring plasma’s high-energy state, the heat it gives off is immense — it can reach temperatures over 10,000°F. This type of plasma, called thermal plasma, is typically used in cutting, welding, and extracting metals.
However, scientists can artificially manufacture a type of non-thermal plasma, known as cold plasma. In the case of cold plasma, the gas is partially ionized, resulting in a temperature around 25°C, which is 77°F. This form of plasma is room-temperature, completely safe, and painless to use on the skin. Cold plasma is typically delivered to the skin by a device that adjusts gas settings to meet specific needs. Its benefits include inhibiting bacteria without causing negative side effects to tissue, which promotes the healing of ulcers. Additionally, it has the ability to selectively target certain cells, which can prove beneficial towards treating skin cancer.
Risks
UV radiation, ozone, nitrogen oxide, and electrical currents are all components of plasma, which can raise safety concerns. Additionally, the genetic mutation HPRT has been discovered in lab-grown liver cells after cold plasma exposure. However, several studies have been conducted that prove the safety of cold plasma therapy, for the UV rays emitted from the device didn’t penetrate the skin. It was eventually deemed safe for commercialized use.
Plasma, which naturally occurs as high-voltage lighting, has found its unlikely use in a device to treat bacterial wounds and prevent infections. Cold plasma can target certain cells in the skin without damaging the tissue around it, making it a likely candidate for treating skin cancer. Although it initially posed some risks, cold plasma therapy was eventually declared a safe method of treating the skin for wounds.
References
Kominis, Charilaos. “How Hot Is Plasma? Hot Melts and Temperature.” Relyon Plasma · Oberflächenbehandlung, relyon plasma GmbH, 10 Nov. 2016, https://www.relyon-plasma.com/how-hot-is-plasma/?lang=en.
Leighton, L. No Title. 2013, pp. 1–1.
Bioscientifica.com, https://rem.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/rem/2024/1/REM-23-0026.xml#:~:text=and%20tissue%20toxicity.-,Cold%20plasma%20is%20an%20emerging%20technology%20that%20has%20opened%20a,inactivation%20and%20improve%20wound%20healing. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
Nih.gov,https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6739293/#:~:text=Complications%20of%20VAC%20therapy%20include,of%20patient%20compliance%20and%20skin. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
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