Cold atmospheric plasma in skin repair, dermatology, regenerative medicine, and dentistry: A narrative review
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), also known as non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma, has been increasingly investigated for biomedical applications because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative effects. Over the past two decades, CAP has evolved from a sterilization tool into a clinically investigated modality for wound healing, dermatological disorders, regenerative medicine, and dental applications. This narrative review aimed to synthesize evidence on CAP in these four fields, compare the strength of findings, and identify key evidence gaps. Peer-reviewed literature from 2005 to 2025 was identified through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Clinical, experimental, mechanistic, and review articles addressing the application of CAP in skin repair, dermatology, regenerative medicine, and dentistry were considered. The evidence was synthesized qualitatively because of substantial differences in study design, CAP devices, treatment protocols, study populations, and outcome measures. The reviewed literature indicates that CAP has been investigated across a broad range of applications in wound care, dermatology, regenerative medicine, and dentistry. The most consistent evidence concerns its antimicrobial activity, while the strongest clinical support is currently found in chronic wound care, where several randomized and controlled studies have reported improvements in wound-related outcomes. Evidence for dermatological applications is more limited and is based largely on small clinical or pilot studies. Regenerative and dental applications are supported mainly by experimental and mechanistic studies, with comparatively fewer controlled clinical investigations. Considerable heterogeneity in CAP devices, treatment protocols, study populations, and outcome measures limits direct comparison across studies. Overall, current evidence supports CAP as a potentially useful adjunctive approach, particularly in chronic wound care, while evidence for dermatological, regenerative, and dental applications remains less established. Standardized treatment protocols, device-specific dosimetry, larger multicenter randomized trials, and long-term safety assessment are needed before broader clinical implementation.
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7223554279