What is a plasma pen?
Plasma-pens are handheld devices wielded like a pen. They are often promoted as cosmetic devices which promise to remove wrinkles and smoothen the skin, particularly around the eyes, nose or mouth. While they can be great for people looking to freshen up their overall appearance, is there any evidence for medical benefits too?
How does a plasma pen work?
The tip of the pen emits a tiny electrical arc to the skin, without actually touching it. This plasma arc vaporises the skin, forming small scabs that drop off within a week. Treatments are performed in medical or cosmetic clinics or at home using smaller devices.
Is it safe to remove a mole?
Developers claim that their use is not dangerous, though this answer is not easy to give we would like to share some of our considerations with you. Our dermatologists are working on a daily basis with moles and on the recognition of moles that are atypical/pre-cancerous or malignant. Most moles are safe and small. Based on this statistical fact, you could state that removal of these lesions, at home or at the skin therapist, is safe.
However, if people with moles which itch, grow or turn a visible dark colour are seeking the urge to use a Plasma corrector pen, this can be unsafe. These symptoms are signs of atypical moles at risk of skin cancer and are not safe to be removed without care and investigation of a physician. Their removal would in most of these cases not be successful as these moles will return onto the skin. Removal of these lesions can lead to a delay in diagnosis of dangerous lesions such as skin cancer.
In these cases, seeking advice from your GP or dermatologist is highly recommended.
Read more: Treatment methods for moles
This article is written by our Sr. Dermatologist Vera Heydendael.
