Fish Skin Is A Cheaper, Less Painful And Faster Way Of Treating Burns Than Bandages

Are you someone who thinks anything to do with fish is highly unappealing? While some may struggle to eat fish due to cultural restrictions or its texture and stench, fish can come in handy in more situations than just for a meal.

Recent studies suggest that fish skin that is used to heal burn wounds is much cheaper and less painful than bandages.

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The skin of Tilapia—a freshwater fish—is highly effective on wounds due to the moisture content and collagen protein present in it.

The skin is said to interact with the patient’s immune system to speed up the process of healing, stated Felipe Rocha, a neurologist at the Federal University of Ceara in Brazil, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Tilapia skin contains a type of collagen that is similar to the protein found in human skin. This is thought to interact with a patient's immune system to speed up healing. While several patients have been reluctant to wrap their burns with fish skin, there are increasing number of children who have been requesting for a ‘bandage’ of this nature.

More than 300 patients worldwide have had this unusual therapy so far. It comes out as a fishy pattern even after the skin has been sterilised and the scales removed.

"In relation to children, the skin ends up being kind of playful, like: 'Gaining a skin and looking like a superhero'," Rocha said, reported IANS.

Once the Tilapia skin is sterilised, it undergoes radiation therapy and kills off any lingering viruses. The skin can then be preserved for up to two years if refrigerated.

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The best part is that the skin can remain on the wound without the need to be changed daily for up to a week.

"The major concerns were whether the skins would subsequently come off, if the fish odour would remain. With the passage of time and the success of the research, patients will arrive at the hospital wanting the treatment with the skin of the Tilapia" says Rocha.

Tilapia is far more resistant than pig skin that has been used previously. It has been reported to be less painful and much faster at closing wounds as well.