Mermaids are real!
Alright, not really. But thanks to a breakthrough in Norway, we’re about to come as close as we’ll ever get (until we finally discover Atlantis, that is)…
Yes, you read the headline right: scientists have discovered a method to turn fish skin into human skin.
The breakthrough comes from Norwegian skin company Kerecis, who has just released their flagship product: the Omega3 Wound.
The Omega3 Wound is composed of intact codfish skin, which is grafted onto damaged human skin. This process “activates” the existing cells in the tissue, which are then converted into real human skin.
This unique process is intended to prevent the need for amputations, which often result from wounds that would otherwise heal slowly without intervention.
Uhh… is this normal?!
The Kerecis Omega3 Wound. Image source: https://woundreference.com/
In short, yes – the idea of using other animals to regenerate human cells is not new.
However, we currently use mammals for such transplants… which comes with a risk of transferring disease. With fish-based skin grafts, there’s no such risk.
Of course, that’s not the only reason they’re swapping in the scaly stuff. Fish skin has significant concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help to reduce inflammation. This also speeds up the healing process and can even prevent pain!
There are all sorts of uses for Kerecis’ Omega3 Wound, including:
- Treating wounds
- Healing burns
- Repairing hernias
- Assisting with surgeries
And more uses are still being discovered!
Where are they getting the fish?
The fish are being sourced from MSC-certified fisheries, which means they utilize sustainable practices.
Each cod can deliver up to eight “skin units” as well, which means there won’t be any shortage of the source any time soon.
At the moment, the Omega3 Wound is the only product approved by the FDA – but Kerecis has plans to release more. They already have a product in development for breast reconstruction.
They also have plans to create an altered version of Omega3 Wound product that would treat dura mater, the membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord.
Alright. Until we see a human transform into a mermaid, we’re confident saying there’s nothing fishy going on here! But what do you think – would you accept a skin graft from a fish? Let us know in the comments below!