A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial between bacterial cellulose gauze (BC) and petrolatum gauze (PG) in the healing of epidermal ablative wounds from carbon dioxide laser

Abstract

Background: Bacterial cellulose (BC) was used to dress various wounds. BC has also applied burn wounds and ulcers as skin repair treatments. The carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser has been widely used to treat numerous skin lesions. However, the benefit of BC gauze as wound dressing after CO₂ laser has yet to be defined. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of BC gauze compared with petrolatum gauze in epidermal ablative wound healing from a CO₂ laser. Materials and methods: We included 26 patients affected by at least two seborrheic keratosis lesions in the same area (face or non-face). After being treated by CO₂ laser, the wounds in each patient were randomized into BC and PG groups. The dressings were changed on days 2, 4, 7, and 10 post-laser. Wound healing was assessed by BWAT score and ImageJ application during each visit. Pain scores and patient satisfaction were also recorded by visual analogue scales (VAS). Results: Twenty-six volunteers completed the study. Most lesions were on the non-face area. BWAT scores in both BC and PG groups were not different (PG vs BC day 2=24.04 vs 24.19; p=0.895, day 4=20.88 vs 21.96; p=0.305, day 7=16.5 vs 16.42; p=0.918, day 10=14.31 vs 14.92; p=0.178). From ImageJ analysis, without statistically significant differences, BC showed a tendency for a higher percentage of wound epithelialization than PG (PG vs BC day 2=20.5 vs 24.6; p=0.373, day 4=40.52 vs 45.32%; p=0.354, day 7=58.03 vs 61.35; p=0.369, day 10=67.79 vs 70.9; p=0.426). Pain scores were not different between groups, but satisfaction scores of BC were significantly higher than PG on days 7 and 10. No complications from BC had been found in this study. Conclusions: BC showed comparable efficacy with conventional dressing in epidermal ablative wound healing and can be safely used for CO₂ laser wounds.