Effects of Topical Emu Oil on Burn Wounds in the Skin of Balb/c Mice
January 2016
in “
Dermatology research and practice
”
TLDR Emu oil may slow down skin healing but increases hair growth in burn wounds.
In a 2016 study involving 32 male Balb/c mice with superficial II-degree burns, researchers investigated the effects of topical Emu oil on burn wound healing and hair follicle restoration. The mice were divided into two groups, with one receiving Emu oil treatment twice daily and the other left untreated. Skin biopsies taken on days 4, 7, 10, and 14 showed that the Emu oil group experienced slower healing and prolonged inflammation, but also an increase in the number of hair follicles at the wound margins. These follicles appeared more active and mature, and there was a positive impact on fibrogenesis and collagen synthesis. The study concluded that while Emu oil may delay overall healing, it positively influences hair follicle growth and wound healing processes.