Martin Ducret, doctor and journalist at Doctor’s Daily, tells us today about a surprising natural therapy, the application of fish skin to heal wounds and burns.
franceinfo: We have known for several years that fish skin acts on burns, which fish in particular?
Martin Ducret: Yes, absolutely, the skin of two fish, the cod, very present in the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Tilapia, a tropical freshwater fish, have very interesting properties on a medical level, to promote the healing of the human skin, following a burn or in the event of a chronic wound. These fish skins are real organic dressings that are applied directly to a patient’s damaged skin.
And the application of fish skin would seem more effective than some usual standard treatments?
Oui, a recent international study on more than 250 diabetic patients with chronic deep wounds of the lower limbs showed that the application of cod skin allowed healing after 4 months in almost 50% of cases. Whereas with the standard treatment, that is to say the daily application of ointment and synthetic dressings, only 25% of patients obtained healing.
Does it also work on burns?
Quite. “These skins, very rich in collagen, can treat burns thanks to their boosting effect on healing and their protective and analgesic power”Professor Marc Chaouat, head of the plastic surgery and burn treatment department, at Saint Louis hospital in Paris, explained to me.
Compared to a classic treatment, applying a dressing with a cream called Flammazine, these fish skins do not need to be changed regularly, which provides more comfort to the patient. In addition, the risk of infection is minimal unlike other types of skin that can be applied, such as human cadaver or pig skin.
“Nevertheless, Professor Chaouat_ pointed out to me, fish skin is not a panacea. In the event of a serious third-degree burn, when all 3 layers of the skin – epidermis, dermis and hypodermis – are affected, only the patient’s own skin graft – the autologous graft – can achieve healing.”_
Is this therapy already used routinely in several countries?
Yes, in Iceland, Germany and the United States, the application of fish skin has already treated thousands of patients. He is an Icelandic engineer, Fertram Sigurjonssonwho had the idea of using cod skin medicinally, and who created the company Kerecis in 2009 to market it.
In France, this therapy is starting to be used in practice in some services, and given the benefits it presents, it should be used more in the coming years.
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