Experimental research and observation of the skin response of mice with a second-degree scald during irradiation by a CO2 laser

Second-degree scalding is a common dermatological injury. Inappropriate treatment methods in clinical practice always produce scarring, and can lead to skin cancer and other complications in the longer term. In this study optical coherence tomography (OCT) combined with a skin detector was used to monitor the response of second-degree scalded skin tissue irradiated by a CO₂ laser. The process of treatment of second-degree scalding was systematically studied from the perspective of tissue optics. The OCT signal intensity was stronger within the whole recovery period in the experimental group undergoing CO₂ laser treatment, and the attenuation coefficient (μ_t) returned to its original value in a shorter time. The results help us to understand tissue injury in a second-degree scald and may help improve the standard treatment.