Researchers are
experimenting with sterilized fish skin as bandages.
There's some fascinating research
going on in Brazil that could save burn victims from unnecessary pain and
infections.
In
Brazil, fish farming is a big business, but farmers typically throw away the
skin from farmed tilapia. Doctors are experimenting with these skins — after
they've been sterilized, of course — as bandages for burn victims, reports Stat.
(Yes, there are some horror movie scenarios that come to mind, but listen to
the science before your mind goes too far.)
The
patient is covered in fish skin because researchers have found that collagen
proteins, which help skin scar, are abundant in tilapia skin, even more so than
in human skin. In a country where human skin, pig skin and other artificial
bandage alternatives are in short supply, this tilapia skin research could make
a tremendous difference.
When
there's no alternative, Brazilian doctors cover burns with traditional
bandages, which have to be changed daily to help prevent infection. Changing
the bandages is painful, and the bandages don't help the wound heal. The
tilapia skin not only can stay on for days or weeks at time, but it also blocks
contamination, accelerates the healing process, and reduces the need for pain
medication.
Read more: https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/can-tilapia-skin-save-burn-victims-pain
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