Dermatologic medical ozone therapy complications treated with hyperbaric oxygen

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Plastic Surgery
• Hyperbaric Medicine

Background:

• Medical ozone therapy involves administering ozone gas topically or systemically.
• It is promoted for infections and inflammation, but human clinical evidence is limited.
• Adverse effects, including gas embolus and fatality, are associated with medical ozone administration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case of dermatologic complications following medical ozone therapy.
• To describe the management of these complications using surgical intervention and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Main Methods:

• A 43-year-old female received medical ozone therapy injections to the face for cosmetic purposes.
• The patient developed worsening alopecia and scarring in the treated areas.
• Management involved surgical excision, closure, and adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Main Results:

• The patient experienced significant fibrotic, scarred, and poorly vascularized tissue post-ozone therapy.
• Surgical intervention was required for excision and tissue rearrangement.
• Forty sessions of hyperbaric oxygen treatments were administered to address presumed skin flap vascular compromise.

Conclusions:

• Medical ozone therapy may have cellular benefits but carries significant clinical risks.
• These risks may outweigh the potential therapeutic advantages of ozone therapy.
• Systemic hyperbaric oxygenation can improve tissue quality and vascularity in compromised areas.