Skin donation is vital to saving the lives of many burns victims. In August 2016, the first skin bank under the government in the state of Tamil Nadu was opened at the Government Stanley Hospital, Chennai. The bank was set up at a cost of around Rs. 80 lakhs.

“For patients with burns, acute skin failure due to drug allergies, degloving injuries, flaying injuries, friction and skin injuries, acute slicing injuries and several kinds of ulcers, processed skin from the skin bank can be used as a cover,” said Dr. G. R. Ratnavel, Head, Department of Cosmetology, at the hospital. “This skin will act as a dressing and fall off within 15 days, by which time the patient’s own new skin would have formed. It also prevents infections as cadaver skin is the best dressing,” he added.

Skin from a deceased donor is generally harvested within six hours, stored in glycerol and antibiotics and then taken to a skin bank where it is processed and preserved. The donor needs to be above the age of 18. However, skin is only taken after donors are screened for HIV and Hepatitis B and C. The skin is harvested from the back and legs in a process that takes approximately 45 minutes.