The use of technology is a relatively new field in cosmetology and that are still not completely understood. The first devices were created as an alternative to laser rejuvenation, however, recent studies show that the possibility of using the plasma is much wider.
In order to understand what are the advantages of the use of technology, let us see what is the plasma. The plasma is a gas that, unlike the usually stable gas, is not only made up of neutral molecules, but also include charged particles — free electrons and positive ions, and negative (and in some cases is composed only by these charged particles).
There are 2 types of plasma:
The plasma is the source:
Specific effects in interaction with the target tissues will depend on the type of the applied plasma, its dose, flow rate, pressure, time of exposure (settings that can be influenced by the change of the devices) and the characteristics of the fabric.
Originally, medicine has adopted the thermal effects of the plasma. Thus, high-speed flow of plasma, obtained by exposure to the inert gas electric current of great power, known as the plasma knife is used for cutting and removing tissue. The capacity of plasma to heat the tissues (even if with minor intensity) has become the foundation of its use and in cosmetology.
However, I must say that in recent years more and more attention it draws to itself the technology of cold plasma at low temperature (35-40approximately), which allows to obtain therapeutic effects without damaging living tissues.
She is currently studying the possibility to apply the ability of cold to lower the temperature of the plasma to generate free radicals and ultraviolet rays for disinfection of the skin of a person, and also for the treatment of wounds. This effect allows you to kill micro-organisms resistant to antibiotics (which is especially important for nosocomial infections), without damaging the skin itself. Antimicrobial activity of plasma has been demonstrated not only on experimental animals but also in the course of randomised controlled trials on human beings: the treatment of wounds in a matter of two minutes with the help of cold argon plasma stimulates a significant reduction in the quantity as gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria in the wounds.
In addition, it was revealed that the treatment of wounds cold low temperature plasma accelerates their healing. Recent work, published in the journal Scientific Reports, has shown that this plasma stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes through the activation of β-catenin-signaling pathway and inhibition of E-cadherin, which is responsible for contact inhibition of cell growth. In mice, whose wounds processed low-temperature plasma, already after 15 days noticed the almost total recovery of epidermis and muscle tissue, as well as the high density of the collagen fibers, while in the wounds, healing in a natural way, these processes have gone much slower.
Recent studies have also found that cold plasma causes a temporary reduction of the barrier function of the stratum corneum and increases permeability of the skin for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. It is assumed that this is due to rebuilding in the lipid bilayers under the action of the plasma and the formation of temporal channels, facilitate the passage of various substances.
The beginning of an era technologies in cosmetology is associated with the thermal effects of the plasma. Thus, the plasma techniques of rejuvenation are based on the controlled thermal damage to the tissues with the objective of initiating regenerative processes, and an "update" of the tissues. This principle is the main and other methods of hardware rejuvenation, however, in the case of the use of plasma has its own characteristics.
Pioneer plasma to rejuvenate the plasma skin regeneration Plasma Skin Regeneration, PSR), which appeared in 2006 as a plasma gas has been asked to use nitrogen is an inert gas, which is able to displace oxygen required for the oxidation and combustion, with the surface of the skin, and in this way reduce to the minimum the risk of burns and scars.
Under the action of high frequency electric current in the arm of the device is the ionization of the nitrogen molecules and create a plasma that is delivered to the skin without contact, in the form of short pulses (so the static method of treatment allows the skin to cool down quickly, and eliminates the risk of burns from the device). That is, in substance, the plasma is a "carrier" of electric energy.
As only the plasma is on the skin, its energy is quickly distributed on the surface and provides a gradient heating of the skin — the first of the epidermis, and then (depending on the energy level) of the dermis, with formation of the area of irreversible thermal damage deeper than the zone of thermal modification.
It is important that, unlike laser, plasma does not require chromophores in the skin, then the heating of the tissue takes place in a uniform way, without the "explosive" vaporizations tissues. A layer of old damaged epidermis serves as a "biological bandage protective" underlying cells and remains in position until you form a new one, and then gradually dies. In addition, it allows to perform the treatment of the skin of any dark skin types and reduces the risk of side effects in the form of scars, infections, and depigmentation. Even in the case of impact at high energy deepithelization occurs rapidly and is usually completed within 5-7 days after the procedure.
The processes occur in the dermal layer for longer. Immediately after the treatment, there is recovery of the collagen fibers (in those areas where the heating temperature exceeds 60approximately) and the reaction to thermal shock, and then at the same time destroying the damaged structures and the activation of de neocollagenesis and neoelastogenesis. The processes of remodeling of the dermis continue for at least 3 months after the treatment.
Another option for the use of the special properties of the plasma for the conduct of rejuvenating treatments is the fractional plasma RF-technology, introduced in 2010
Special tip of the manipulator (in the form of movement of the rollers or flat fixed nozzles), a plurality of needle electrodes (spicule). When you get closer to the skin surface a few micrometers powerful electrical rf discharge, passing through the electrodes, is the flash of the plasma (plasma discharges, high-density).
These flashes of a real "punch" the skin, the epidermis and the upper layers of the dermis, forming channels surrounded by lunch thermal damage. With the further rotation of the ball (or fixed pressure head) of the spicules pressed in these areas, the ablation, exerting on them an additional mechanical impact.
The depth and size of any damage will be also determined the energy and the duration of the pulses (according to a research conducted on the skin of the piglets, wells ablation can reach 50-200 µm of depth and 80-200 µm in diameter, and the area of coagulation — distributed to 100-200 µm around them). Ablator ends after 3-4 days, the processes of remodeling of the dermis can last up to 6 months.
The fractional plasma RF-recommended treatment for the correction of age-related changes (wrinkles, sagging skin, etc.), but also for alignment of tone of the skin and reduce the scars. Also, the speed of execution of the procedures (an average of 10 min to 5 steps in the face), you can use the rollers for the treatment of larger areas of the skin, for example, the belly.
What are the characteristics of plasma rejuvenation with respect to the laser, the alternative to which it was originally created?
Unlike laser, plasma can be used on skin of any dark skin types. Hyperpigmentation, which can get you out after the procedure, in general, occurs less frequently than in the case of laser treatment. Also significantly reduced the risk of infection and scarring.
Shown WITH2-laser form more homogeneous to the depth and the diameter of the damage, while in the case of using the plasma of these dimensions can vary. In addition, lasers provide a more profound impact, the plasma. However, it is more on the surface effects of the plasma treatment can be one of the causes of lower risk inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
With regard to the efficiency of the procedures, has been conducted for a direct comparison of fractionated plasma RF-technology and fractionated WITH2laser to remove scars post-acne. One side of the face of the patients (in total participated in 33 people with III and IV skin types) has been developed with the help of plasma, the other of the laser, for 3 treatments of each type. The depth of damage in the first case ranged from 120 to 150 µm and a diameter of 150-180 µm. Fractional WITH2laser format damage depth of 300-400 µm and a diameter of 100-120 microns. The zone of thermal damage around the well of ablation was larger in the case of the plasma.
Both methods are essentially and practically is the equivalent of reduced the severity of the scars post-acne — with 51,1 ± to 14.2 to 22.3 ± 8.6 in the case of the plasma (improvement 56.4%) and 48,8 ± of 15.1 to 19.9 ± 7.9 WITH2laser (improvement of 59,2%) on a scale of IT. With this in response to the laser effect of 12 people (36,4%) developed post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and by a plasma treatment of such complications were not observed.
In this way, the plasma allows you to fight with pigmentation, smoothing the texture and tone of your skin and, in fact, is equivalent to non-ablative laser. High-energy plasma, in turn, helps to fight the worst defects, such as wrinkles, reduction of elasticity and firmness of the skin, and also scars post-acne and stretch marks, but the depth of the impact will be limited to the upper layers of the dermis (in the case of laser depth the thermal and medicinal areas can be more than 1 mm).
And even if the plasma rejuvenation is less risk of side effects and requires less recovery time, the efficiency of the ablative laser is still the most high. However, these procedures may be the procedures of choice in patients with dark skin types, because for them it is significantly reduced the risk of inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
In addition, the use of the technology of the plasma will develop, and already now it appears a growing number of promising devices with new properties, which allow them to escape from the comparison with the "younger brother" of the laser, and to occupy a niche separate.
The main difference serious professional plasma devices, from portable devices for the home and the use of the hall is the presence of a control on the depth and the degree of damage to the skin. It is a fundamental aspect that allows you to get the expected result and to reduce the risks of unwanted side effects.
The number of new devices that use the properties of the plasma, increases every year. There are also the portable devices, which allow you to use the energy of the plasma in salon and beauty house. However, it should be noted that in the installed mode of exposure, where there is no possibility to change neither the strength, nor the depth, nor the processing time, which is the cause of problems with regards to their efficacy and safety.
At the same time, the developers of professional vehicles, in contrast, are concentrating their efforts on the improvement of the devices and the creation of more controlled technologies that allow you to achieve expected and stable results.
Interest in plasma technology is on the rise — confirmation a large number of devices appearing on the market in the last few years. Plasma rejuvenation provides softer the impact of ablative lasers, however, accompanied by a lower number of adverse events, and it becomes all the more controlled. A further advantage is the possibility to use plasma technology for the treatment of dark skin types of skin.
In addition, it appeared to the care of the device of generation of cold energy of low-temperature plasma, which greatly expands the prospects of use of technologies, and it allows you to imagine the growth of their popularity in the future.