WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsUsing electric current to heal wounds

Using electric current to heal wounds

This may look like an ordinary bandage but it's not. Dermatologist Scott Sheftel has been testing the procellera, a newly approved, bioelectric wound bandage.

"It has an effect of stimulating the wound. Not only optimizing the environment, but getting cells to migrate across the open areas," says Dr. Scott Sheftel, a dermatologist.

When moistened, the zinc and silver elements in the bandage create bioelectric activity, an electric current that heals.

Flory Bourne is one of Dr. Sheftel's patients she's battled skin cancer on her legs for years. "When you're young you heal fast, when you get older you heal slow," says Floury.

After using the bandage at home, Flory's legs were healing after just three weeks.

Ruth Wheeler was in the same situation. She had a deep cut wouldn't heal. "Six weeks, it wasn't healing." Within two days it started to heal and in less than four weeks it was healed, totally healed," says Ruth.

The bandage works on many hard to heal wounds, including diabetic ulcers and shingles. "The patients just are agonizing in pain and we've used this dressing and really have given them some relief," says Dr. Sheftel.

About 6 million people in the United States have some type of chronic wound - costing the country's health care system about $20 billion each year.

Currently the bandage is only available through doctor's offices. The makers hope to gain FDA approval for over-the-counter use within the next year.