Honey in wound dressing promotes wound healing and complete skin regeneration

Honey in wound dressing has been used to treat infectious diseases and prevent inflammations. Since ancient times it has been considered one of the most valued natural products. There are reports of using it as a remedy dating back to ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. It is formed from the nectar of flowers by bees and has several nutritional, medical and cosmetic values.

The reputable and sustainable agent has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Besides providing an incredible boost to the immune system, it also has a significant meaning in wound healing. The liquid gold has natural bioactive compounds, which explains its extensive use in medical applications such as patches. These include medical chestnut honey providing exceptional effects throughout the healing process.

Honey in wound dressing creates optimal healing conditions using osmotic activity. The moist environment stimulates perfusion in the tissue, which activates autolytic debridement. That reduces inflammation and ensures that the wound heals faster. By triggering a local immune response, osmosis attracts lymphocytes and macrophages that provide phagocytosis.

A chemical reaction is catalyzed by the pull of liquids activating glucose oxidase. During the reaction, gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are released in low concentrations. Gluconic acid further lowers the pH, while hydrogen peroxide promotes proteolytic debridement and activates proteases. Medical honey patches accelerate collagen synthesis in the granulation phase and maintain the proper level of growth factors.

They also stimulate smooth migration and proliferation of keratinocytes during the epithelialization phase. Honey is known to have antioxidant activity which helps it intercept free radicals before they can do damage. The best indicator of how much antioxidant properties has is its brightness – the darker the color, the higher the value of the antioxidant.

Honey in wound dressing speeds up a sophisticated biological process of healing which occurs after an injury in tissue. The process involves parenchymal cells, blood cells, ECM and connective tissue. There are four phases of wound healing in which the following components play a tremendous role:

Honey is an 80% saturated solution of simple and complex sugars. Most of them are a mixture of two monosaccharides, glucose and fructose. The ratio between them depends on the type of honey and botanical origin. The medical chestnut type has 25% of glucose and 42% fructose.

Their ratio determines its incredible viscosity that allows liquid gold to come into contact with the entire surface of the lesion. Sugar uses osmosis to dehydrate bacteria and simultaneously trigger a local immune response in the injury.

This activated autolytic debridement causes necrotic tissue in the wound to soften and detach with ease. Sugar in medical honey patches also diverts microbes that feed on protein from the exudate to feed on glucose instead.

A saturated solution creates an acidic environment that prevents bacterial growth, regulates the level of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and starts the healing process. Its acidic pH varies between 3.5 and 6 depending on the content of various organic acids. The ratio is what determines antioxidant and antibacterial activity.

You have probably heard about the proline content. It is used to determine the maturity and quality. Amino acid proline acts as a potent antioxidant in the injured tissue. Its content varies depending on the type – averaging anywhere from 100 to 400 mg/kg.

Kynurenic acid is only present in chestnut honey. Its job is to destabilize or prevent the formation of biofilm present in most chronic lacerations. Biofilm is a name for a cluster of slow-growing bacterial cells forming from a persistent polysaccharide protective coat.

Kynurenic acid successfully affects the communication system of the bacteria, resulting in lesions displaying high antimicrobial potential with an intense, long-lasting effect.

Honey has high levels of manganese, zinc, potassium and calcium that help with collagen synthesis, a crucial part of newly formed tissue. Contents of different elements accelerate the epithelialization and granulation and shorten the inflammatory phase resulting in less or no scarring.

Honey in wound dressing is a 100% natural saturated solution of sugars. It is undiluted without additives and thickening agents. Castanea sativa or sweet chestnut honey, is the purest type with unprecedented composition entirely produced by bees. Made from manna and nectar has a complex solution of sugars, enzymes, acids, minerals, amino acids and flavonoids.

All of which have substantial effects on the wound-healing process. It is produced under highly controlled conditions (HACCP) and subjected to various biochemical and microbiological analyses. It does not contain genetically modified or synthetic components. Medical honey patches Vivamel are produced in highly controlled environments or clean rooms and are sterilized by e-beam sterilization that destroys microbes, including sporogenic bacteria.