Kerala to launch first skin bank to provide relief for burn victims, accident survivors

People suffering from burns, accidents, or severe skin injuries can soon breathe a sigh of relief with the upcoming establishment of Kerala’s first government-operated skin bank at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. The bank will function similarly to a blood bank, allowing individuals to receive donated skin, helping prevent infections and supporting faster recovery.

The skin bank aims to provide a life-saving solution for those with severe skin loss, often due to burns or accidents. According to Dr Premlal, the Kerala State Nodal Officer for Burns, skin graft surgeries performed with banked skin will help prevent the loss of muscle, essential minerals, and salts in critical patients. This approach will speed up healing, alleviate pain, and improve overall recovery outcomes for patients in need.

Donating skin for the future

The new skin bank will collect skin donations from individuals who give consent while alive, as well as from those who pass away without prior consent for donation. Skin will typically be harvested from the thighs and back, in a thickness ranging from 0.1 to 0.9 millimetres. With the bank’s establishment, people will have a chance to save lives by donating skin, just as they would donate organs. The skin bank will start its operations once the necessary permissions are obtained.