Hydrogen Water Speeds Burn Healing by Activating Skin Repair Cells
- Authors
- Dmitri Atiakshin, Mariya Soboleva, Dmitry Nikityuk, Nataliya Alexeeva, Svetlana Klochkova, Andrey Kostin, Viktoriya Shishkina, Igor Buchwalow, Markus Tiemann
- Journal
- Pharmaceuticals
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.3390/ph16030348
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Russia
- Health Condition
- Second-degree Burns
- Body System
- Integumentary System
TL;DR
Breathing in molecular hydrogen can help heal second-degree burn wounds faster by boosting the repair of the skin's connective tissue.
Key Finding
Molecular hydrogen treatment stimulated collagen formation and accelerated skin regeneration in rat burn wounds, with effects comparable to standard therapeutic ointments.
Summary
Researchers studied how molecular hydrogen (hydrogen gas dissolved in water) affects burn wound healing in rats, focusing on mast cells (immune cells involved in tissue repair). They found that treating second-degree burns with hydrogen-enriched water stimulated the growth of collagen (a protein that gives skin its structure) and accelerated healing, with results comparable to standard wound ointments.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-enriched water may support burn wound healing by activating tissue repair processes, though human studies are needed to confirm whether these results apply to people. The study's small scope and animal-only design mean the findings cannot yet guide clinical decisions.
Abstract
The mechanisms of regeneration for the fibrous component of the connective tissue of the dermis are still insufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of molecular hydrogen on the local therapy of a II degree burn wound with the intensification of collagen fibrillogenesis in the skin. We analyzed the involvement of mast cells (MCs) in the regeneration of the collagen fibers of the connective tissue using water with a high content of molecular hydrogen and in a therapeutic ointment for the cell wounds. Thermal burns led to an increase in the skin MC population, accompanied by a systemic rearrangement of the extracellular matrix. The use of molecular hydrogen for the treatment of burn wounds stimulated the regeneration processes by activating the formation of the fibrous component of the dermis, accelerating wound healing. Thus, the intensification of collagen fibrillogenesis was comparable to the effects of a therapeutic ointment. The remodeling of the extracellular matrix correlated with a decrease in the area of damaged skin. Skin regeneration induced by the activation of the secretory activity of MCs may be one of the possible points of implementation of the biological effects of molecular hydrogen in the treatment of burn wounds. Thus, the positive effects of molecular hydrogen on skin repair can be used in clinical practice to increase the effectiveness of therapy after thermal exposure.