Skin Replacement Saves Dying Boy

Scientists altered stem cells to grow skin to help those who have skin disease and those who are burn victims. This was tested on a 7-year-old boy who suffers junctional epidermolysis bullosa, which makes skin so fragile that even simple rubbing can cause the skin to blister or come apart. The Boy had complete epidural loss on majority of his body. He was in so much pain that he was on morphine, and fighting off a staph infection. The doctors gave antibiotics, changed dressings, grafted skin donated by his father. The new study exhibits safety of replacing the entire epidermis using and shows how different types of cells work together to help our skin renew itself. In another article on the NY Times, Other researchers have also tried bone-marrow transplants to correct the genetic flaws in the disease, but several children have died from the side effects of that arduous treatment, and results have been mixed in those who survived. I think it is interesting that there are so many studies going on trying to help those who have skin diseases and those who have been involved in fire. Hopefully the research can continue so those who suffering from epidermolysis bullosa are helped.