Atlantic cod skin shows promise in treating severe burns

Researchers have identified a potential breakthrough in treating severe burns using Atlantic cod skin as a biological dressing. An analysis by John Lantis from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai examined data from 471 patients across 49 burn centers between 2019 and 2025.

Compared to traditional synthetic or biosynthetic materials, patients treated with fish skin were discharged from the hospital an average of 12 days earlier and experienced a 50% reduction in the risk of complications. The skin, rich in type 1 collagen and omega-3 fatty acids, appears to stimulate tissue repair rather than just providing a protective barrier. This method offers an alternative to skin grafts, which typically require harvesting healthy tissue from other parts of the patient's body.