By David MacDonald D id you know that for scarring after a bad burn, human skin requires significant amounts of the healing protein collagen, particularly types 1 and 3? Did you also know that types 1 and 3 are plentiful – even more so than in human skin – in the skin of one of the world’s most popular dinner plate guests, the tilapia fish? In response to a local shortage of the traditional collagen-rich human and pig tissues used in serious burn treatments, researchers in Brazil have been experimenting with what is being hailed as a potentially superior alternative, according to Businessinsider.com.
Tilapia skin is Mother Nature’s gauze-and- cream alternative, but this natural choice is actually cheaper: 75 cents less per application.
Not only is tilapia fished easily from many of Brazil’s rivers, it’s also widely available locally for purchase from regulated fish farms for consumption or, in this case, experimental purposes.
But get it while the getting is good. Tilapia skin may be considered fish farm waste today, but who knows what tomorrows’ fish market will look like.
It’s also on the low maintenance side of patient care. One of 56 experimental patients told Reuters that tilapia skin doesn’t need to be changed out as often as gauze-and- cream and that it reportedly alleviates pain to varying degrees.
Refrigerated tilapia skin stays medically viable for up-to two years.
76
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JUNE 2017
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker