Burns improve more rapidly after treatment with fish skin
Severe burns are often treated with synthetic products ahead of skin graft surgery, but there is evidence that a product made from minimally processed cod skin is more effective
Fish skin has shown promising results in treating severe burns, with patients experiencing faster recovery and fewer complications compared to traditional graft surgery. Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that patients treated with fish skin spent 12 fewer days in the hospital on average, with an average discharge time of 23 days, compared to 35 days for those receiving synthetic substitutes.
Additionally, the complications rate was twice as high in the synthetic-substitute group, with 16% experiencing issues like sepsis, in contrast to 8% in the fish skin group. The unique composition of fish skin, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and collagen, may trigger the ideal amount of inflammation to assist the healing process. Atlantic cod skin, in particular, is considered safe and effective, as it closely resembles human skin at a microscopic level, requiring no harsh detergents to maintain the beneficial omega-3 components.
While further formal head-to-head trials are needed to confirm these findings, an ongoing trial is assessing the potential reduction of graft needs in second-degree burns using fish skin.
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