ABSTRACT
Nanosecond pulsed electric fields have been studied for about 25 years now and have unique properties that have led to their application in dermatology for the removal of skin lesions. The use of pulses in the nanosecond domain has been called “nanopulse stimulation” (NPS) due to the broad range of cellular responses stimulated by these pulses. Both their unique nonthermal properties and their clinical applications in dermatology are reviewed here. The main target of NPS treatment is the lipid bilayer found in all cells and organelle membranes, and the mechanism of action involves the initiation of transient nanopores in these membranes. These nanopores facilitate the flux of water and ions across the membrane barriers to disrupt membrane-bound cell and organelle function and that leads to NPS treatment’s specificity for cellular targets while having little effect on acellular components of the treated tissue. Clinical studies using NPS therapy to treat seborrheic keratosis and sebaceous gland hyperplasia have demonstrated a high degree of safety and effectiveness in eliminating skin lesions, usually with a single treatment.
