Efficacy of 0.2% hyaluronic acid in the healing of skin abrasions in rats

Acute injuries, such as surgical and traumatic, heal normally in an organized and rapid manner. Studies point to the healing activity of hyaluronic acid in all phases of healing. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid in skin abrasions on the dorsum of rats to compare to usual products on the market. Seventy-two Wistar rats were subjected to excoriation of approximately 2.0 cm(2) on the back by dermabrasion. According to the treatment, 3 groups were established: saline, chlorhexidine digluconate and 0.2% hyaluronic acid for 14 days. Animals were photographed on the 2(nd), 7(th), 10(th) and 14(th) postinjury days, and the index of healing of the abrasions was calculated. Biochemically, myeloperoxidase measurements of skin biopsies in addition to histological studies to assess the crust and epidermal layers were performed. The group treated with hyaluronic acid showed better re-epithelialization from the other groups (p < 0.05) on the 7(th) and 10(th) days. For the thickness of the crust, the hyaluronic acid group presented thinner crust than other groups on the 10(th) and 14(th) days (p < 0.05), but in the epidermis, no difference was observed between the groups studied. All groups showed an increase in myeloperoxidase enzyme on the 2(nd) day, but a decreasing on the 7(th) day. On the 10(th) day, there was a difference in the hyaluronic acid group compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The application of 0.2% hyaluronic acid significantly accelerated the re-epithelialization of skin abrasions compared to saline and chlorhexidine digluconate.