Chinese and Australian scientists have developed a battery-operated handheld plasma treatment device, purported to rid the skin of bacteria almost instantly.
What’s exciting is that not only can the device kill bacteria on the surface of the skin, it may also be able to penetrate below the skin as well.
The published article is actually free for a short duration (30 days after publication), you can read it here.
The cold plasma works by generating reactive oxygen species throughout a structure, in the experiment it was able to entirely kill a bacteria’s biofilm, which was 25.5 micrometers thick. 25.5 micrometers is equivalent to 0.0025 centimeters.
Whether or not these reactive oxygen species are safe for a living subject has not yet been studied.
This is different from other handheld acne treatment devices, such as the Zeno, which use sustained and precise heat to reduce bacteria.
In a news publication, the researchers mention that the device is cheaply manufactured at only $100 per unit.
I’m sure studies on its effectiveness on treating acne will come out soon, especially if the device is viable.
It’s possible we will also see this device used as a sanitizer for personal care tools, wounds and used in dental practices.
Wow that’s pretty neat. I can’t wait though, til the Star Wars era arrives. Do you think the device would damage skin? I didn’t comment earlier but I did read this article the day you posted it!
According to the article, the device is safe for skin in terms of it’s operating temperature. Whether the free radicals it generates are enough to damage the skin haven’t been studied at this point! The technology is still relatively new.