Just Skin, co-located with CARSANS in the Medici centre in Toowoomba, is only the second location in Australia to use the advanced Grenz ray therapy technology.
Grenz radiation therapy, also known as Grenz rays or Bucky rays, is a specialised form of radiation therapy that utilises very low-energy x-rays to target and treat superficial skin conditions. The term “Grenz” is derived from the German word for “border,” as Grenz rays are on the border between ultraviolet light and x-rays.
Grenz rays produced by our machines generate x-rays with energies in the range of 10-20 kV. This extremely low energy allows the x-ray to have shallow penetration, with only the very top layers of the skin being treated. This characteristic makes Grenz radiation an excellent option for treating conditions that are confined to the skin’s surface.
Grenz radiation is primarily used to treat a variety of superficial skin disorders, including:
In addition to these conditions, Grenz rays can also be used for certain types of superficial skin cancers, although its primary use remains in dermatological conditions that are non-cancerous.
One of the key advantages of Grenz radiation therapy is its ability to precisely target the superficial layers of the skin without affecting deeper tissues. This results in fewer side effects compared to other forms of radiation therapy that penetrate more deeply. Grenz radiation can be administered in a clinical setting, without pain or significant recovery time.
While Grenz radiation is effective for treating many superficial skin conditions, its low penetration depth limits its use to conditions that are confined to the uppermost layers of the skin. For deeper or more aggressive skin cancers, other forms of radiation therapy, such as Superficial X-ray Therapy (SXRT) may be required.