An innovative scientific project will provide improvements in atopic dermatitis patients, through a revolutionary fabric
Biofunctional textiles are fabrics that work biologically into the human skin. It is the new cutting edge technology that emerges from a partnership between science and textile sector as a way to address the impact of certain diseases on the quality of life of patients. Imagine that instead of undergoing a series of stressful treatments, as complementary therapy, all you had to do was to wear pajamas? Fiction? No longer. The idea was to create clothes that would treat a chronic skin disease emerged in the wake of a project involving the Service and Laboratory of Immunology of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto and several other research centers at a national range. The innovative concept intents to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of garments with special features for atopic dermatitis. The 2nd dermis (second skin) created a special organic cotton fabric impregnated with chitosan, a natural component antimicrobial and healing, preventing the proliferation of bacteria from patients with this skin disease. The closes in question are soft and comfortable, maintaining its characteristics even after 30 washing cycles.
The trial has been ongoing over the past two months, including two hundred volunteer patients, whose cooperation does not imply any kind of drug; they just have to wear the shirt and leggings which were made by a company in Famalicao, with most of its activity in the development of new technological materials. The participants, during the test, have been accompanied by a team of health professionals who will assess their quality of life before and after using the special pajamas. However, there are already preliminary data that demonstrate the effectiveness of these "intelligent" textiles in patients that are part of the trial. An indicator that opens "the way" for future applications of biofunctional fabrics in the quality of living of patients anywhere in the world.
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