swiss medicaBurn injuries trigger significant physiological responses in the body, causing pain, a prolonged recovery process, and visible scarring. In recent years, advanced medical approaches have offered new hope for recovery. One of them—stem cell burn treatment—supports healing by improving skin repair and enhancing tissue regeneration. It helps reduce scarring and discomfort, particularly for patients who haven’t benefited from conventional methods.
How can stem cells be used to treat burn victims, and can they truly transform the recovery journey? This article explores these questions to help you determine whether stem cell burn treatment could be a potential solution for you.
What Are Burns and Their Impact on Skin Health
Burns are the injuries caused to the skin by heat, cold, electrical, chemical action, or even radiation. Before answering the question, “How are stem cells used to treat burns?” it’s important to understand the different types of burns. They can be classified by the severity and by the depth to which they penetrate the skin.
| First-degree burns | Affects only the outer layer of the skin—the epidermis. Symptoms include redness, tenderness, and dryness of the skin without blisters. Mild sunburn is the most common example of this kind of burn. These burns generally heal within 5 to 10 days without scarring. |
| Second-degree burns | Involve both the epidermis and part of the dermis, which results in blistering, swelling, and pain. The skin may appear red and shiny. Healing usually takes 2 to 3 weeks with minimal scarring. |
| Third-degree burns | The damage affects the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. The skin may appear white, blackened, or even charred, and often lacks sensation due to nerve destruction. Such injuries typically require hospitalization. Scarring occurs as a result of tissue death during the healing process. |
| Fourth-degree burns | These burns penetrate all layers of skin, reaching muscle and bone. They can be life-threatening and require immediate medical care. |
Burns can affect the health of the skin:
- Burns, especially second- and third-degree burns, may lead to scarring.
- Burns make a person more vulnerable to infection because the skin barrier has been damaged.
- Burns may cause a permanent discolored burn effect, marked by hyper- as well as hypopigmentation of the skin.
- Contractures usually develop after severe burn injuries, causing the skin to tighten and limiting movement.
How Are Stem Cells Used to Treat Burns: The Science Behind Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy improves the wound-healing process, offering greater benefits for patients with severe burns. But how do stem cells treat burns?
- Most of the therapeutic effects of stem cell burn treatment involve the release of growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines responsible for facilitating tissue repair and regeneration.
- Stem cells activate key pathways such as PI3/AKT, WNT/β-catenin, TGF-β, Notch, and Hedgehog. These pathways are essential for wound healing, helping to reduce inflammation and promote angiogenesis.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have garnered significant attention for their effective tissue repair capabilities, particularly in skin stem cell healing for burn victims. They can be sourced from bone marrow, fat tissue, placenta, and the umbilical cord. MSCs support burn wound healing by promoting vascularization and reducing inflammation and fibrosis.
A promising cell-free therapy involves exosomes derived from stem cells. Exosomes contain biomolecules that promote tissue repair and accelerate the healing process.
Never heard of exosomes?
Discover how these tiny but powerful molecules can accelerate recovery, reduce inflammation, and support your skin’s natural regeneration after burns.
Key Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for Burn Recovery
- Stem cell burn treatment accelerates wound healing by boosting angiogenesis, collagen production, and enhancing the quality of granulation tissue.
- By downregulating the inflammatory response, stem cells help reduce fibrosis, leading to less hypertrophic scarring and fewer keloids.
- Stem cells also support the regeneration of skin appendages, such as hair follicles and sebaceous glands, improving the overall quality of the healed skin.
Afraid your burn will leave a lasting mark?
Discover how stem cell therapy can transform scar healing by boosting your skin’s natural regeneration.
Types of Burns Benefiting from Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells help accelerate wound healing, reduce inflammation, and improve scar outcomes. But could stem cells cure burns? Let’s find out.
| Severe burns (that extended through all the skin layers and into deeper tissues with heavy destruction) | Stem cell treatment for burns has given great hope for enhancing wound healing, reducing inflammation, and improving scar outcomes in severe cases. |
| Non-healing wounds | Using stem cell therapy for burn treatment contributes to the management of non-healing chronic wounds through the promotion of tissue regeneration and modulation of inflammation. |
| Cutaneous Radiation Syndrome (CRS) | Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can promote vascularization in radiation burns and aiding in the healing process. |
Preparing for Stem Cell Burn Treatment: What to Know
Preparation for stem cell burn treatment usually involves:
- Medical consultation and screening,
- Selection of a source of stem cells,
- Proper modes of administration.
A thorough evaluation includes checking the burn’s depth and size, along with any potential complications from the injury.
It’s important for patients to fully understand the process, including the treatment steps, associated costs, and any potential risks, to make an informed decision.
Get a free online consultation
How can stem cells be used to treat burns? Fill out the form for a free online consultation, and our experts will walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have about your treatment plan.
Medical Advisor, Swiss Medica doctor
How Do I Choose a Reliable Clinic for Stem Cell Burn Treatment?
The success of the treatment largely depends on the clinic. Selecting a clinic with extensive experience, diverse treatment options, high success rates, and strict adherence to safety standards ensures the best quality care.
- Choosing Swiss Medica means prioritizing your healing and well-being. We offer a no-obligation consultation to address all your questions and concerns before treatment:
- How can stem cells help burn victims?
- Can stem cell treatments be used to treat severe burns?
- How do stem cells treat burns?
- etc.
- Swiss Medica has extensive experience in using stem cells, and burn victims can benefit from this expertise. Our experts in stem cell treatments create programs of treatment based on clients’ needs, employing the newest methods that accelerate skin regeneration, reduce scarring, and quicken recovery.
- Our modern hospital and clinic, located just 15 minutes from Belgrade Airport, provide a welcoming and supportive setting for your care.
- Our package for burn therapy with stem cells is all-inclusive, covering the treatment, exosome therapy, accommodation, and procedure-related costs to keep your visit as hassle-free as possible.
- After stem cell treatment, our dedicated team stays in touch to track your progress and support your long-term recovery.
Our medical facilities in Serbia feature advanced medical equipment and an in-house laboratory, allowing for efficient diagnosis and treatment.
Why choose Swiss Medica for your burn treatment?
Learn about our cutting-edge therapies, personalized care, and affordable solutions that make recovery smoother and stress-free. Click below to see why patients trust us for life-changing results.
How Stem Cell Therapy Works: The Process Explained
In top-tier clinics, the treatment process is meticulously customized to each patient’s specific condition. Typically, the therapy involves the following steps:
- Doctors assess the patient before the stem cell burn treatment to get a clear picture of the case history and the current health status. It helps to ensure the feasibility of a patient for this treatment and what type of stem cells should be used.
- There are different sources from which stem cells can be derived:
- If autologous stem cells are utilized, then the patient may undergo a procedure to harvest the cells.
- In the case of allogenic stem cells, doctors use cells extracted from a donor.
- The collected stem cells are processed in the lab to separate and concentrate them. Techniques of filtering and centrifugation help get a high concentration of cells.
- Then the doctor administers prepared stem cells to the patient through a method suitable for the patient.
- After the stem cell treatment for burns, doctors monitor patients for side effects and treatment progress.
Cost and Availability of Stem Cell Therapy for Burns
Exploring new treatment methods often raises concerns related to costs and travel to the clinic. The cost of treatment with stem cells for burns ranges from approximately $5,000 to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the kind of treatment.
The cost of burned skin treatment by stem cells also depends on the geographical location, reputation, and expertise of the clinic and specialists involved.
- Therapies using stem cells for burn victims are primarily available in clinics specializing in regenerative medicine.
- Some countries, like the United States, may have higher prices for stem cell treatment. However, other countries, such as Serbia, have more available options. Swiss Medica, for example, offers stem cell treatment for €7,000 to €31,000*, depending on the patient’s treatment plan and additional procedures.
*The prices mentioned are indicative and subject to change based on individual factors, including the condition’s severity and the number of stem cells needed. Prices are valid as of January 2025.
Success Stories: Real Cases of Burn Recovery Using Stem Cells
Success stories of using stem cells and burn victims improving their condition illustrate the potential of better healing with less scarring. With continuing studies, it is possible that the role of stem cells in the treatment of serious burns will be greatly improved and enhance patient recovery.
In one clinical trial, allogeneic MSCs were applied topically or injected under a transparent film dressing in patients with deep second-degree burns. As a result, there were significant improvements in wound healing, with complete wound closure in all patients within a few weeks and no major adverse events.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Stem Cell Therapy for Burns?
How can stem cells be used to treat burns without serious side effects? Stem cell therapy for burns is considered safe, but being a medical intervention, it has some minor side effects. Patients may experience the redness, swelling, or discomfort at the site of injection for a short period. One can minimize the risks when choosing a reputable clinic and experienced specialists who can safely perform the procedure.
Embryonic stem cells and skin burns treatment are incompatible, raising significant ethical concerns and potential risks. Unlike mesenchymal stem cells, which are ethically sourced and well-tolerated by the body, embryonic cells pose challenges that limit their application in burn therapies.
Comparing Stem Cell Therapy with Traditional Burn Treatments
Traditional treatments of burns usually include cleaning the wound, debridement, application of topical antibiotics, and regular changes of dressings to avoid infection and ensure healing. These are well-understood and widely available treatments. They have very defined indications for their use and tend to be considerably less expensive in comparison to the stem cell therapies. However, these may result in slower healing with more scarring, whereas stem cells for burn victims offer the possibility of quicker healing with less scarring.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stem Cell Burn Treatment
1. Can stem cell therapy completely eliminate burn scars?
Searching for the answer to “How can stem cells help burn victims?” one may come across claims suggesting that stem cells can completely eliminate burn scars.
While complete removal of scars may not be possible, significant improvements in their appearance can be achieved, reducing complications such as hypertrophic scarring.
2. Is stem cell treatment suitable for all types of burns?
While the use of stem cell therapy is promising in many types of burns, it is not universally applied to all burn injuries. Stem cells should be considered on an individual basis, taking into account the severity of the burn and the overall health status of the patient. For example, very severe burns with great loss of tissue are usually beyond the effective application of this therapy.
However, if you are wondering, “Can stem cells cure burns in my case?” we recommend discussing your condition with our regenerative medicine specialist. In just 15 minutes, they will provide guidance, answer your questions, and help you find the information you need.
Send a request
Fill out the form for a free online consultation, and our specialists will help you determine if this treatment is right for your healing journey.
Medical Advisor, Swiss Medica doctor
List of References
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). Stem cells in regenerative medicine: Stem cells and their potential in treating burns. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539773/
Mingyao Wang, Xinxuan Xu, Xiongxin Lei, Jie Tan, Huiqi Xie, Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy for burn wound healing, Burns & Trauma, Volume 9, 2021, tkab002, https://doi.org/10.1093/burnst/tkab002
Abdul Kareem N, Aijaz A, Jeschke MG. Stem Cell Therapy for Burns: Story so Far. Biologics. 2021 Aug 31;15:379-397. doi: 10.2147/BTT.S259124. PMID: 34511880; PMCID: PMC8418374.
Francis E, Kearney L, Clover J. The effects of stem cells on burn wounds: a review. Int J Burns Trauma. 2019 Feb 15;9(1):1-12. PMID: 30911430; PMCID: PMC6420705.
Schulman CI, Namias N, Pizano L, et al. The effect of mesenchymal stem cells improves the healing of burn wounds: a phase 1 dose-escalation clinical trial. Scars, Burns & Healing. 2022;8. doi:10.1177/20595131211070783
MD, Pediatrician, Regenerative Medicine Specialist
