Evaluation of skin tissue effects from treatment with a novel hand-held plasma energy device.

INTRODUCTION: Plasma IQ™, the first FDA-cleared hand-held plasma energy device, is indicated for removal and destruction of skin lesions and coagulation of tissue. Treatment involves use of an electrostatic plasma spark to heat the skin and create discrete microthermal wounds. METHODS: Microthermal wounds on pre-auricular and upper eyelid skin from two individual subjects were created using multiple treatment parameters to assess the impacts of power, pulse duration and needle electrode type on wound depth, width and thermal spread, and analyzed using histology to characterize treatment effects. RESULTS: Device power had a statistically significant impact on upper eyelid skin microthermal wound depth and width (2-sided t-test p < 0.0001 for both) but not on thermal spread (p = 0.1171). No meaningful differences in wound width, depth, or thermal spread were observed based on pulse duration or electrode type. All microthermal wounds demonstrated dual zones of tissue injury and extended to the superficial reticular dermis. CONCLUSION: Treatment with the Plasma IQ™ device creates focal microthermal wounds of reproducible depth and width that are comprised of dual thermal injury zones similar to other plasma energy skin rejuvenation devices. Device power is the most important factor determining microthermal wound depth and width.

Helium plasma dermal resurfacing: VISIA CR assessment of facial spots, pores, and wrinkles-Preliminary findings.

OBJECTIVES: Effects of low energy, single-pass helium plasma dermal resurfacing (PDR) treatment on brown spots, enlarged pores, and wrinkles-preliminary findings. METHODS: Twenty two subjects (64.6 ± 6.6 years) with Fitzpatrick Wrinkle and Elastosis Scale score (FWS) of ≤2 and seeking improvement of facial appearance were included in this subanalysis. All subjects received a single, one-pass, full face, and low power helium PDR treatment. Standard digital images were collected using the VISIA-CR (Canfield Scientific Inc.) at baseline and 3 months after treatment with images assessed for improvement in FWS and for improvements in brown spots, enlarged pores, and wrinkles by proprietary automated image processing algorithms. RESULTS: Nearly all subjects demonstrated ≥1-point improvement in FWS and also reported improvement per modified Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale query. The numbers of brown spots and enlarged pores decreased by 45.1% and 28.3%, respectively. Stratification of brown spots data by presence or absence of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation revealed paradoxically conflicting data. The improvement detected in wrinkle area and mean wrinkle thickness was less pronounced with overall reductions of 13.4% and 4.8%, respectively. 37 Non-serious adverse events (AEs) in 22 subjects were reported with most resolving within 14 days or less, and no serious AEs were observed. CONCLUSIONS: While longer-term follow-up is needed, these early study results show that one single-pass, low energy helium PDR treatment improves facial skin appearance both qualitatively and quantitatively. Studies evaluating higher energy levels and multiple treatment passes are ongoing.