Background: During ablative fractional resurfacing (AFR) laser therapy, thermal damage to the skin is inevitable, resulting in inflammatory responses and small wounds. Corticosteroids are known for their anti-inflammatory effect. However, inappropriate application of corticosteroids carries the risk of delayed wound healing. Therefore, we aimed to find the optimal administration route, timing, and duration of medium potency corticosteroid treatment to prevent AFR laser-induced inflammatory responses and to minimize the risk of delayed wound healing. Methods: We determined the anti-inflammatory efficacy of corticosteroids by skin erythema and tissue biopsies on C57BL/6 mice. Wound healing was evaluated by crust area and epithelial gap. Finally, Masson’s trichrome stain and α-SMA immunohistochemistry stain were used to analyze scar contracture. Results: Our results demonstrated that one dose of medium-potency topical corticosteroid applied immediately after AFR laser treatment could prevent erythema effectively with minimal disruption to wound healing. Notably, when more than one dose was administered, wound healing was delayed and scar contracture was aggravated by the application of medium-potency topical corticosteroids in a dosage-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that single-dose medium-potency topical corticosteroids could potentially improve AFR laser-induced acute inflammatory responses in clinical applications.

Background: Deep and extensive wounds usually cannot be closed directly by suturing or skin grafting. Flap transplantation is typically used to reconstruct large wounds clinically. The flap survival is based on a stable blood perfusion. It is established that estrogen promotes wound healing and angiogenesis, and regulates the inflammatory response, leading to enhanced flap survival after transplantation. However, estrogen concentrations administered in previous studies were significantly higher than physiological levels, potentially causing systemic side effects. Estrogen‐sustained‐release silastic capsules can maintain blood serum estrogen closer to physiological levels. This study aimed to investigate whether administering estrogen at a lower concentration, closer to physiological levels, could still enhance flap survival.Materials and Methods: This study was performed in a random skin flap model in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Sustained‐release estrogen silastic capsules were implanted into OVX mice to determine the functional role of estrogen in wound healing after flap transplantation. Flap blood perfusion was analysed using a colour laser Doppler scanner. Immunohistochemical staining of CD31, hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF‐1α), alpha–smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), cleaved caspase 3 and apoptotic terminal dUTP nick end‐labelling stain was used to investigate flap angiogenesis, tissue hypoxia, wound healing and cell death in the flap tissue, respectively.Results: We observed that administering estrogen at a lower concentration enhanced superficial blood perfusion while reducing the flap's ischemic area and tissue necrosis. HIF‐1α expression was significantly decreased in the dermis layer but not in the fascia, whereas cleaved caspase 3 levels decreased in the fascia but remained unchanged in the dermis. Additionally, there was no significant difference in CD31and α‐SMA expression between the groups.Conclusion: In summary, the study showed that an estrogen silastic capsule maintained physiological estrogen levels and improved superficial perfusion, thereby reducing dermal hypoxia, and cell death in a mouse random pattern skin flap model. Although no significant promotion of angiogenesis was observed, the study suggests that appropriate estrogen supplements could enhance flap wound recovery.

Treating severe burn injuries is still an intractable issue despite significant advances in clinical practice guidelines of burn care. When autologous skin grafts are not available immediately, skin allografts are considered the cornerstone of burn wound coverage. This paper describes how Taiwan achieved skin allograft self-sufficiency after 2020 and shares our experience of building standard operating procedures for the Taiwan skin bank. The standard practices of the Taiwan skin bank were demonstrated. We reviewed skin donors (n = 145) between January 2019 and December 2024. Skin allograft characteristics (size, and bacteriological and mycological results) were collected and analyzed. The annual inventory amount was calculated. From January 2020 to December 2024, 107 (79.25%) were male and 28 (20.75%) were female. The donors' ages ranged from 17 to 75 years, with the highest proportion (46.66%) falling within the 45-65 years old age group. The total surface area of harvested skin was 499,231 cm². The total loss amount during skin processing was 67,565 cm². The total storage amount was 431,666 cm². The bacteriological results revealed 12.88% average infection rate. The average annual skin storage amount increased from 27,345 cm² to 86,333 cm² annually, and achieved self-sufficiency after 2020. Due to limited skin allografts during the large-scale burn emergencies of 2015, we established national skin bank and implemented domestic collaboration for skin procurement. Taiwan achieved skin allograft self-sufficiency after 2020.