The skin could be used for so much more than participating in social experiments by applying soap on one side and a self-proclaimed nourishing bathing soap on the other! ANANYA BORGOHAIN explores how it could breathe a new life into another person — socially, physically and psychologically — even after one’s death
There is indeed so much to do about the human skin than participating in social experiments by applying soap on one side and a self-proclaimed nourishing bathing soap on the other. Registering oneself as an organ donor sure is a venerable decision, but the skin too could also of be of higher services. Skin can be donated within six hours of a person’s death.
Anyone can donate skin irrespective of their age and gender, provided they are 18 years of age and above. The whole procedure takes only about 30-45 minutes, but it could metamorphosise the life of a burns victim. The procedure entails different stages of blood collection, followed by skin harvesting and bandaging. The face and neck of the donor will be untouched, thereby dispelling doubts about the dignity of the dead or for the purpose of funeral.
While treating severe burn cases, most doctors contact skin banks to help their patients. Burn injuries are not only physically traumatic but also subject a person to perpetual mental and social discomfort. A battery-operated instrument called Dermatome is used while harvesting skin. Usually, only the 1/8th layer, that is the uppermost layer of the skin, is harvested. In the preservation of the skin, it is kept cleanly covered in containers containing Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) and antibiotics like Penicillin, stored at 4 degrees Celsius, for about two to four weeks. Alternatively, it can also be preserved with Glycerol and antibiotics at 70 degrees Celsius. In this case, it could be stored for more than a month.
Beyond burn injuries, one of the most inhuman and traumatic experiences for a person could be an acid attack. And statistics imply that acid attacks are prevalent in countries like India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Uganda and Cambodia, among others. The BBC reports that 1,500 attacks are reported worldwide every year, but the actual figure could be much higher.
In India, following the Delhi gangrape case of December 16, 2012, a new law was passed which criminalised acid attacks. It proposed punishment of not less than 10 years to a maximum of life imprisonment for perpetrators and fine that could go up to Rs10 lakh. The Supreme Court on July 18, 2013, passed an order to regulate the sale of acids across the country. While hoping that this would lower the number of such cases, one can still not shy away from helping those already in need. Depending upon the depth of injury, skin donation or skin transplantation could at times heal an acid attack victim entirely or at least heal 70 per cent of the burns.
Here are some of the most important steps while handling acid attacks as also listed in www.stopacidattacks.org:
Post surgery, three steps could be relied upon for quicker relief:
Skin grafting is another surgical procedure in which skin is removed from one part of the body and placed over burned or damaged skin. Third-degree burns must be covered as quickly as possible to prevent infection as well as loss of fluid. For first or second degree burns, skin grafting is the most effective solution. Tissue expansion too is a medical procedure that enables the body to grow extra skin for use in procedures concerning reconstruction. From ulcers to cosmetic reasons and skin cancer, skin grafting can be the answer to all these woes.
Unfortunately, skin banks in India are rare, causing double trouble for patients who require immediate transplant. And the few that exist are ceaselessly hunting for donors. Interestingly, at the same time, the Indian aesthetic industry, over the past few years, is reported to have seen a surge in demand with huge opportunities for growth. The aesthetics and wellness market is speculated to touch $20 billion over the next two years with equal weightage to vanity for men and women.
A newly opened clinic in Delhi, Reva, offers an entire suite of aesthetics services. It is said to be a high-tech aesthetics clinic, the first in India to acquire a BBl Sciton machine, which is the safest and most advanced machine and has introduced programmes combining Eastern practices with Western technology. The clinic also uses the Forever Young laser, a superior technology introduced for the first time in the Indian aesthetics industry along with Cool sculpting — a proven non-surgical fat reduction technique. Moreover, for a wholesome experience, there would be customised meals at Ea’T’hin café based on the European weight management program, which would be delivered to patrons across the city.
The team at Reva is led by the highly renowned facial plastic surgeon, Dr Devinder S Mangat, MD, as Chief Medical Director. His skill in this field is unparalleled and he says, “With Reva, my handpicked team brings to India a whole new world of beauty and aesthetics services as never seen before with international standards practiced and cutting edge technology. My team and I hope to bring about both art and science to the field of aesthetics.” On board this team are Dr Reema Arora, a senior consultant renowned as the ‘Mother of Aesthetics in India’, Dr Aarushi Passi (cosmetic physician), and Dr Shubhangi Perkar (dermatologist).
Backed by the UNICEF and NACO, Reva is also working with Stop Acid Attacks, an NGO, to stabilise the lives of acid attack victims. One victim will be treated at Reva pro bono annually. They also say that they will partake in events to raise awareness on the need to stop such crimes. Reva also claims to have contributed generously to Mamta, which works with International HIV/AIDS Alliance. Dr Mangat will have three additional America-trained plastic surgeons, Neena Will, Tripti Burt, and Mark Been , performing surgical and non-surgical procedures at the clinic.
Additionally, there will be two full-time cosmetic dermatologists evaluating and treating patients. Some of the services that will be provided include treatment of wrinkles, facial skin blemishes, and pigmentation using chemical peels, non-invasive lasers and skin care products.
Fractional lasers for skin surface rejuvenation and skin tightening radio frequency and infra red lasers to improve skin texture and colour are also used in surgical procedures related to the skin. Other surgical procedures for skin include the facial rejuvenation with facelifts, eyelid lifts, facial implants for chin and cheek augmentation, rhinoplasty, scar revisions, removal of skin blemishes, and so on.
However, they often cost the common man a bomb. Acid attack victims could be from any strata of society and it is often seen that they hail from a background with limited means. Unfortunately, until last year, Government hospitals did not have skin banks, rendering the poor helpless and further traumatised.
A report in 2010 stated that in India, incidents of burns amount to a shocking six to seven million per year. This is attributed to illiteracy, poverty and lack of safety awareness among people. The absence of burn care facilities makes the situation worse despite the fact that 90 per cent of the burn injuries are preventable.
Almost a decade of the millennium, the supposedly shining 21st century, saw almost no trace of skin banks across the country. Not many, in fact, know that skin can be donated too. Collective social apathy towards donation of organs or skin deters a lot of scientific progress that could have helped mankind. Only a thin layer from the thigh and back are collected and that too without any disfigurement to the body of the donor. But it gives a new life to another person. Procedures such as skin grafting, skin donating, and skin banking need urgent attention and active participation to spread awareness.
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