Spray-on Skin: Doctors’ Possible New Treatment For Skin Ulcers

By Joseph Orovic | August 05 2012 3:42 PM

A "spray-on skin" could become the new treatment du jour for open wounds and ulcers adding a layer of skin cells which could promote healing, according to U.S. and Canadian researchers.

Wikicommons: Jonathan Moore

A recently-published study contends a new "spray-on skin" may be the best treatment option for skin ulcers, such as the one depicted.

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A trial showed the spray promoted faster healing, which could save patients money despite the additional cost of the treatment, according to findings published in the Lancet.

The spray coats the wound with donated skin cells and includes blood-clotting proteins to quicken the healing process. The study showed patients who were treated with the spray-on skin every two weeks benefited the most.

"The treatment we tested in this study has the potential to vastly improve recovery times and overall recovery from leg ulcers, without the need for a skin graft," said Dr. Herbert Slade, who was involved with the study, according to the BBC. "This means not only that the patient doesn't acquire a new wound where the graft is taken from, but also that the spray-on solution can be available as soon as required - skin grafts take a certain amount of time to prepare, which exposes the patient to further discomfort and risk of infection."

The study published in the Lancet tested the safety and proper dosage of the spray. Further studies will be conducted to test if it is a suitable treatment for leg ulcers.

The current mode of treatment involves compression bandages, which only heal about 70 percent of ulcers after six months. Other options include using skin acquired from another part of the body and grafting it to the wound.

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