# Legitimate substance that really promotes healing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903 "2025-06-20T18:13:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/1 "2025-06-20T18:13:40Z")
I’m sure there are multiple salves and ointments that claim to hasten healing of scrapes and cuts, but are there any legitimate peer reviewed materials that are really proven to hasten and promote healing? I can’t trust marketing claims and am wondering if there is anything that is scientifically proven ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/2 "2025-06-20T19:31:01Z")
After 40 years of treating patients and family for various skin wounds, I got the best results by careful cleaning with soap and water, along with vaseline or aquaphor on non-stick dressings. Antiseptics have a role for dirtier wounds, as do antibiotics for wounds caused by bites, especially dog/cat/human bites. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/3 "2025-06-20T23:44:09Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > that claim to hasten healing of scrapes and cuts, but are there any legitimate peer reviewed materials Yes, the stuff that claims to heal scrapes and cuts, does work. Bandaids became popular after unequivocal demonstration that they promoted healing. Those salves that keep the wound clean, flexible, and exclude air, are peer-reviewed and hasten and promote healing. Topical antiseptics also have been peer-reviewed, but AFAIK, don’t hasten healing, they are anti-septic, not healing hastening. Deep wounds are different. You don’t really want the skin to heal before the hole heals. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/4 "2025-06-21T01:02:31Z")
It depends on what you mean by healing. Tetanus is a bacteria found in dirt, and vaccinations (or a booster shot) are thus recommended for certain wounds. It is easy to prevent tetanus and very difficult to treat rare complications. Cat bites get infected more than dog bites. Lots of people who punch others in the face get “bitten” on their hand (or various other forms of human bites from babies. brawlers, the befuddled, etc). Proper wound cleaning can be as simple as soap and lots of sterile water or saline. Prophylactic antibiotics are sometimes useful. But you probably want to know about reducing scars, and such. For longer and deeper wounds, bringing the wound into a more natural position is helpful. This is what sutures, staples, wound glues and Steristrips do. Salves and ointments to reduce some scarring have inconsistent evidence. There are sometimes claims of help from certain vitamins or collagen, etc., but nothing particularly impactful AFAIK. I think soap and water is as good as most things, with a medical opinion of the wound is deep, complicated or in a sensitive location like the face or fingers. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/5 "2025-06-21T03:16:51Z")
Let’s presume copious irrigation of the wound and not a high risk wound like a car bite. _Hydrogels_ legitimately promote and hasten healing. Whether or not “the juice is worth the squeeze” over a simple bandage is a separate question. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/6 "2025-06-21T03:22:15Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > high risk wound like a car bite. Yeah, the grille on the '53 Cadillac could leave big tooth marks. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/7 "2025-06-21T03:25:21Z")
Thinking more a Jaguar… 😸 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/8 "2025-06-21T05:36:36Z")
I wouldn’t mind being bit by Jag. That pocket book bite might hurt. Seriously I’m always trying heal boo boos on my skin. I find washing and maybe a bit of lidocaine in a antibiotic gel. If its oozie, a bandaid. For a day. Then watch it. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/9 "2025-06-21T09:05:57Z")
I believe I have found a product that REALLY does promote healing. But…I don’t have any proof beyond my own experience. No peer review studies that I know of. Bag Balm. It’s a very old product and good for many things, by all accounts. In my experience this balm will truly speed healing of any cut, bite or wound. Initially intended for treating animal teats in livestock, I believe. I find it really does as promised. I’ve used it for a lot of things, never disappointed. (Sorry if it doesn’t quite fit the request!) ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/10 "2025-06-21T09:34:08Z")
Getting the right mix of moisture and air next to the healing process seems to be a win for some wounds. Personal experience with a couple of wounds. IANAD, so opinion is worth what you paid for it. A some years ago my table saw bit me. (As soon as I could afterwards I went out and bought a Sawstop table saw.) Only a tiny bite. I was lucky. (And I was being careful, using a push stick, all the right things, but a moment of inattention, and my thumb brushed the blade.) Full depth avulsion of a saw blade’s width of skin from my thumb tip. The treatment was ridiculously simple. They cleaned it out (the worst bit) and wrapped it in a semi-porous film that provided exactly the right blend of air and moisture retention. The thumb healed almost perfectly. There is slight scaring I can feel, and the fingerprints are missing in the gap. I can’t remember the exact film they used. I don’t think it was a polyurethane (eg Opsite) but rather was a hydrogel of some sort. The emergency room was very familiar with the process, dealing with a regular flow of saw injuries. Mine being at the trivial end. Table saws count as pretty much the second most dangerous tool in the workshop. Healing of wounds is a remarkable process. With lots of phases and different activities of different cell lines working in sequence. Getting the right conditions helps a lot in encouraging migration of the needed cell lines into the wound so they can do their work. Hydrogels seem to be generally useful for a lot of wound management. Liquid ones under a film seem to help with slow to heal or recalcitrant wounds, especially in the aged or where circulation isn’t great. Another one is silicone. Ages ago I had a spot removed and after the plastic surgeon had sutured things up his assistant was keenly applying what I later found out was a silicone liquid that once cured formed a permeable film, again conducive to good healing. It healed without trace. A variant of the same thing is sold to help avoid scarring of wounds. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/11 "2025-06-21T12:37:34Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I believe I have found a product that REALLY does promote healing. But…I don’t have any proof beyond my own experience. No peer review studies that I know of. > > Bag Balm. It’s a very old product and good for many things, by all accounts. From all I’ve heard, it’s the absolute best thing out there for dry skin, but it’s expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/12 "2025-06-21T13:10:16Z")
In the realm of alt med that’s proven to have legitimate value as medicine (a scantily populated realm, to be sure), [use of medical-grade honey](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/medical-grade-honey-is-viable-tool-in-wound-care) on wounds has been shown to have antimicrobial properties and promote healing. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/13 "2025-06-21T14:23:25Z")
If you are self-treating wounds of any origin that are too small to require professional care, I strongly suggest starting with OTC triple antibiotic ointment (plus the aforementioned bandaid). You can buy it at any pharmacy or even one of those “dollar stores.” In addition to fighting infection, it also adds the aforementioned moisture. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/14 "2025-06-21T14:56:22Z")
Does it work any better than, say, Vaseline? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/15 "2025-06-21T14:59:34Z")
I like using liquid bandages (Dermabond is one brand) instead of bandages. They last longer and work better, especially on joints. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/16 "2025-06-21T15:14:26Z")
Aloe Vera or aloe Vera hydro gels have definitely been peer reviewed and proven to promote healing. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/17 "2025-06-21T15:17:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > From all I’ve heard, it’s the absolute best thing out there for dry skin, but it’s expensive. > **[Amazon.com: Bag Balm Ointment 8 Ounces : Health & Household](https://www.amazon.com/McKesson-Ointment-Bag-Balm-8OZ/dp/B072NCQ8BL)** > > OINTMENT BAG BALM 8OZ 8 oz for $12.00 is _expensive_?? A little goes a long way, so it lasts. Ingredients: Petrolatum, Lanolin, 8-Hydroxy Quinoline Sulfate 0.3%, Paraffin Wax ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/18 "2025-06-21T15:35:37Z")
As mentioned above, a topical honey based hydrogel could have benefits, but I have no idea if there are scientific studies behind it. EDIT: I did find this study which found better healing of a burn with a topical honey hydrogel. [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-08771-8#Sec19](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-08771-8#Sec19) [![](https://media.springernature.com/full/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41598-017-08771-8/MediaObjects/41598_2017_8771_Fig3_HTML.jpg?as=webp) ](https://media.springernature.com/full/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41598-017-08771-8/MediaObjects/41598_2017_8771_Fig3_HTML.jpg?as=webp) > Mean wound diameter (mm ± SD). N: negative control, normal saline, P: positive control, silver sulphadiazine, H: pure honey, **F3: 75% honey-chitosan formula.** \*F3 significantly effective than either control, P or H (p \< 0.001). Are you talking about for a topical wound or an internal wound? Other things that are important are nutrition. A diet high in protein as well as vitamins/minerals like zinc, Iron, vitamin C, Vitamin A, B vitamins, etc. so your body has the building blocks to repair damage. There are also various injectable medications and peptides that could help with healing. HGH, testosterone, TB-500, BPC-157, etc. However, again, I don’t have any scientific studies for any of that. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/19 "2025-06-21T15:52:35Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@Chronos](#): > > > > From all I’ve heard, it’s the absolute best thing out there for dry skin, but it’s expensive. > > [Amazon.com: Bag Balm Ointment 8 Ounces : Health & Household](https://www.amazon.com/McKesson-Ointment-Bag-Balm-8OZ/dp/B072NCQ8BL/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9t_COeFgE_iUadRw5ebU0AtnZB0wvJ7Xu0tfCdaOE3o9tz_e-e8zUYVEjKp9eS1l_Z3i-PW973Q45IK3-Gx4KkeeGskIP7qDCMBbcGvfXCO3iZwd8NI-rl6aA1ovhWA1t7gLzVceapQyMFfL92nPlcz-pBk_-X17c9mEePZYn6AJp90NBU_9BcVKA0Z6jsR4SsP9gGDY-ZoENsIjpyQ4fGA_BDsZXaoRjXyOeOmRAVgB1wssg6AZZjPD_0rHlunf8qeN0NDU4aQFVrl6BcY_z-oZPlyJCv8fBFYXtEpRVIs.XMs-6Ih1Wz3Eh9d3WDGgG2zJsHPL5QRJEcGNEzEGJRE&dib_tag=se&hvadid=693630409640&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9028226&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=10684396474947059520--&hvqmt=b&hvrand=10684396474947059520&hvtargid=kwd-304160669458&hydadcr=21662_13322769&keywords=bag+balm+skin+moisturizer&mcid=5a5ede7c252a3163ab8bfae42acf5566&qid=1750518908&sr=8-4) > > 8 oz for $12.00 is _expensive_?? A little goes a long way, so it lasts. > Ingredients: Petrolatum, Lanolin, 8-Hydroxy Quinoline Sulfate 0.3%, Paraffin Wax When you made this post it was $12.11 for 8 oz. Now 35 minutes later it is $14.34 for 8oz. At this rate of price growth, bag balm will be more valuable than platinum in 2 days. _Rushes to liquidate my retirement accounts and invest in bag balm_ ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903/20 "2025-06-21T16:08:12Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Aloe Vera or aloe Vera hydro gels have definitely been peer reviewed and proven to promote healing. This ^ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-substance-that-really-promotes-healing/1019903.md?page=2)