Cold Atmospheric Plasma in Dermatology: A Review of Applications in Skin Cancer, Wound Healing, and Microbial Infections

Abstract

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has recently emerged as an innovative therapeutic option in dermatology. Unlike conventional treatments with frequent side effects, CAP offers a safe and non-invasive alternative for managing skin cancers, wound healing, and microbial infections. This review is based on studies published between 2013 and 2025, identified through comprehensive literature searches in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, with the aim of evaluating the therapeutic potential of CAP. Evidence indicates that CAP selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells, accelerates epithelialization and collagen synthesis during wound repair, and exhibits strong antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and pathogenic fungi. However, the lack of standardized treatment protocols, device variability, and limited long-term safety data remain major barriers to its clinical translation. Future mechanistic insights and well-designed clinical trials will be critical to establish CAP as a transformative modality in dermatological therapy.

Keywords

• Cold atmospheric plasma
• Skin cancer
• Wound healing
• Bacterial and fungal infections

Dermatolojide Soğuk Atmosferik Plazma: Cilt Kanseri, Yara İyileşmesi ve Mikrobiyal Enfeksiyonlardaki Uygulamalara İlişkin Bir Derleme

Abstract

Soğuk atmosferik plazma (CAP) son zamanlarda dermatolojide yenilikçi bir tedavi seçeneği olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Yan etkilere sahip geleneksel tedavilere kıyasla, CAP cilt kanserlerinin yönetimi, yara iyileşmesi ve mikrobiyal enfeksiyonlar için güvenli ve invazif olmayan bir alternatif sunmaktadır. Bu derleme, CAP’in terapötik potansiyelini vurgulamak amacıyla 2013–2025 yılları arasında yayımlanan çalışmaları değerlendirmektedir. Kanıtlar, CAP’in kanser hücrelerinde seçici olarak apoptozu indüklediğini, yara onarımı sırasında epitelizasyonu ve kolajen sentezini hızlandırdığını ve çoklu ilaç dirençli bakteriler ile patojenik mantarlara karşı güçlü antimikrobiyal aktivite gösterdiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Ancak, standart tedavi protokollerinin eksikliği, cihaz çeşitliliği ve sınırlı uzun dönem güvenlik verileri, klinik uygulamaya geçişte önemli engeller olarak kalmaktadır. Gelecekte mekanistik anlayışların geliştirilmesi ve iyi tasarlanmış klinik çalışmalar, CAP’in dermatolojik tedavide dönüştürücü bir yöntem olarak kabul edilmesi açısından kritik öneme sahip olacaktır.

Keywords

• Soğuk Atmosferik Plazma
• Deri kanseri
• Yara iyileşmesi
• Bakteriyel ve mantar enfeksiyonları

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