Advancing Dermatological Care: Potential of Gas Plasma Technology for Actinic Keratosis Treatment

Abstract

actinic keratosis (AK) is a precancerous skin condition, often necessitating effective treatment to prevent progression to invasive, potentially lethal skin cancer. Traditional methods, such as cryotherapy and other topical therapies, pose various challenges, including discomfort and the potential for scarring. In recent years, medical gas plasma technology has emerged as a potential additional therapeutic option, leveraging the unique properties of such partially ionized gases to offer a noninvasive and targeted approach. This review critically evaluates clinical evidence from CE-certified plasma devices, including the kINPen MED and PlasmaDerm VU-2010, which demonstrate the efficacy and safety of plasma treatment in accelerating healing, lesion burden reduction, and skin rejuvenation. Building on these clinical insights, the review also outlines the underlying mechanisms of plasma-induced oxidative stress, discusses advancements in device design that enhance treatment precision and patient comfort, and highlights existing challenges such as standardization and reproducibility. Together, these findings position medical gas plasma as a compelling addition to the dermatological treatment landscape and underscore the need for continued translational and clinical research to establish its place in standard AK therapy.