Lost your skin? Now a bank which can help you get it back

Bengaluru: A few months ago, the city had its very first skin bank inaugurated by Medical education minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil. It is considered the largest skin bank in South India and the second largest in the country, after Safdarjung hospital.

The bank is now ready with its very first processed skin, which was tested for two to three months before the skin was made ready for treating patients.

"The first skin donation is processed and ready to be used," confirms Dr Ramesha K T, Professor and HOD, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burns, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI). He says that the bank has already received four skin donations since it became fully operational. "Every day we admit around 4 patients with burn injuries. Most of these are cases of severe burns. We would be using this skin on patients with 40%-50% burns or on borderline cases, as saving them is easier when compared to higher degree of burns. With the donated skin, the burn victims will feel less pain, there will be lower fluid loss from the injury and infections can be avoided," adds Dr Ramesha.

Speaking about awareness and skin donation, Dr Ramesha says that despite the demand being huge for skin donations, these four donations are a decent start.

"The demand is very big. Consider the National Burns Center in Mumbai which received five skin donations in the first year. But awareness would make us bridge the gap between the demand and supply," adds Dr Ramesha.

The protocol followed was just like any other organ donation. Speaking about the method and protocol which needs to be followed, Dr Ramesha explains, "The person should be over 18 years old, and should not have any skin disease or skin cancer. Later the skin will go through many tests to check that it doesn't have Hepatitis 'C' or HIV. The protocol that needs to happen is similar to any other organ donation."

"Only a thin layer of skin from thighs and back is taken. There is no bleeding or deformity to any part of the body; the process is called 'Skin Harvesting.' Within six hours of death either in the hospital or home, the skin can be removed. The process is simple and takes less than 45 minutes. Later the skin goes through the testing process; after that it can be stored in the bank for five years," says Dr Ramesha.