Thin plaster heals skin more quickly

A PATCH that delivers an electrical charge to the skin speeds up the healing of wounds.

Researchers developed the plaster that activates when it reaches skin temperature.

The University of Electronic Science and Technology of China team discovered electrical stimulation encourages the release of growth factors — natural chemicals that help healing.

In tests, the patch, which is as thin as a human hair, sped up the healing process by 20 per cent when compared with other dressings, and 50 per cent compared with no dressing at all, the journal Science Advances reported.