Wound Management Properties of Chitosan

Chitosan is derived from chitin. It is non-toxic and the only natural cationic polymer on earth, considered as an interesting alternative in products for healing of skin defects and inflammation, mainly because of its beneficial biological properties: biodegradable, biocompatible, antioxidative, mucoadhesive, film-forming, hemostatic, potentially antimicrobial, stimulating healing, and analgesic.

Wound healing is a dynamic process involving many molecules and cells. Chitosan-based products play a positive role in various stages of wound healing. As an ingredient, chitosan is advantageous because of its anti-inflammatory and film-forming properties, thus providing a suitable microenvironment for healing. Chitosan protects the wound and interferes with harmful microbes, to help controlling infections. Chitosan can modulate our skin microbiota.

How chitosan supports wound management

Below are some of the ways in which chitosan assists with wound management:

• Chitosan strengthens and protects the skin and provides a protective layer against chafing and other external skin damaging factors.
• Apart from offering a physical barrier to external skin irritants and contaminants thanks to its film-forming nature, chitosan can modulate skin microbiota and protect against wound infections known to retard healing.
• Chitosan can reduce pain and inflammation, such as with burns or sunburn, providing relief with reduced itching and skin redness.
• Chitosan properties induce analgesia, providing a cool and pleasant soothing effect when applied to skin and open wounds.
• Chitosan, being a good humectant, helps in the recovery of the skin barrier function and the cooling of the skin. Both these contribute to chitosan's anti-pruritic effect.
• A chitosan salt, like ChitoCare Medical products, is a natural hemostat by its cationic nature. Hemostats help in natural blood clotting and block nerve endings, thus reducing pain.

The positive impact of chitosan on epidermal tissue regeneration contributes to hemostasis, healing and re-epithelialization of the wound.

Examples of chitosan application in wound management

Chitosan has many biological properties that are beneficial for the skin. Some areas of chitosan applications include treating skin conditions and irritations, chronic wounds, cold sores, promoting epidermal regeneration and more. For example:

• Skin redness occurs when the skin becomes inflamed and swollen. Skin redness can be diminished by chitosan film applied to the skin, thanks to its antioxidant properties that bind and inactivate free radicals.
• Cold sores can be irritating and painful, normally found on or around the lips resulting in itching, burning or a tingling sensation before a small, hard, painful spot appears and fluid-filled blisters erupt. Chitosan gel and spray can be applied to developing cold sores to strengthen the skin with a cooling effect, reduce pain and provide a proper moisture control, facilitating skin recovery with reduced chance of infection.
• Chitosan has been used as an effective substance in epidermis regeneration, due to chitosan's ability to create a cationic film. This adheres to the sensitive skin area, enabling mechanical skin protection. Chitosan's hydrophilic surface promotes cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation but also maintains and attracts fluids and cells to the defect site.
• Acute wounds are a broad range of wounds, from superficial scratches to deep wounds damaging blood vessels, nerves, muscles or other body parts. They can be traumatic (abrasion, puncture, laceration, incision, burns/sunburns) or they can be surgical wounds. Aside for being prone to infection, scarring may also develop. Chitosan treatment of wounds will confer better support of the skin around the wounded area, as well as wound protection against infections and moisture loss. It also helps reduce pain and inflammation, ensuring proper healing and minimizing scarring with well-synchronized skin repair.

Many other skin problems or defects can be treated with chitosan to protect the skin, control moisture, reduce inflammation and infection, stimulating skin renewal and natural protection. Some examples include:

• pimples
• cold sores
• skin rashes
• eczema
• acne symptoms
• old and new scars

ChitoCare Medical Devices

Chitosan medical devices, such as ChitoCare Medical Wound Healing Gel and ChitoCare Medical Healing Spray, are medical devices designed to promote healing in a natural way. They come in the form of gel and spray and can be applied to suit any wound shape. They will dry into a thin, breathable film to protect the wounded area and to protect against infections. They contribute to hemostasis, relieve pain and maintain a proper microenvironment for rapid and natural healing. For more information on Primex Medical Devices, visit our product page.

___

As a chitosan manufacturer, Primex concentrates its efforts on the environmentally friendly and sustainable production of natural, pure and high-quality chitosan. It is an active ingredient with numerous applications in the food supplement, cosmetic, biomedical and agricultural markets. For more information on how Primex can assist you with your chitosan needs, do not hesitate to get in touch.