Scar Healing and Skin Repair: What Research Says About Beta-Glucan Hydrogels
Share
Whether it's a kitchen burn, a post-surgical scar, or skin recovering from a breakout — understanding how your skin heals (and what can support it) is empowering. Here's what the research says about beta-glucan.
How Your Skin Heals Itself
Skin repair is a complex, multi-stage process. After any injury — from a paper cut to a professional skin treatment — your body goes through overlapping phases: inflammation, new tissue formation, and remodelling. Each phase relies on different cell types, growth factors, and environmental conditions.
The quality of healing depends on many factors including your overall health, nutrition, wound care, and the environment around the wound. This is where research into bioactive ingredients becomes relevant.
What Is Beta-Glucan?
Beta-glucan is a naturally occurring polysaccharide found in the cell walls of yeast, fungi, and certain grains. In skincare research, beta-glucan has attracted attention for its interactions with the immune system and its role in the wound healing process.
A comprehensive review published in Nutrients described beta-glucans as "multi-functional modulators of wound healing," noting that they may enhance the infiltration of macrophages — immune cells that play a key role in tissue repair and collagen deposition (Barsanti et al., 2018, PMID: 29614757).
Beta-Glucan and Scar Quality
Scarring occurs when the skin's normal architecture is disrupted during healing. Research has explored whether beta-glucan can influence the quality of scar tissue formation.
A 2024 study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that beta-glucan treatment provided therapeutic benefits including "accelerated healing time, beneficial cellular recruitment, and improved tissue architecture of healed scars" (2024, PMID: 38299969).
Separately, a study on chitin and beta-glucan hydrogels found that the combination was effective in "promoting wound healing and inhibiting scarring" — suggesting that the hydrogel format itself plays a role in creating optimal healing conditions (2022, PMID: 36073016).
Why Hydrogels Matter
A hydrogel is a water-based formulation that creates a moist, protective environment over the skin. Research consistently suggests that maintaining a moist wound environment — rather than letting skin "dry out" — supports more effective healing and may reduce scarring.
Hydrogels can:
- Maintain moisture at the skin surface
- Create a protective barrier against environmental irritants
- Deliver active ingredients (like beta-glucan) directly to the skin
- Be applied without disturbing fragile healing skin
Clinical Applications
A split-face, double-blinded, vehicle-controlled study found that skincare containing beta-glucan supported skin recovery following fractional laser therapy — a common professional skin treatment (2020, PMID: 33128496).
A clinical evaluation of a bioactive beta-glucan gel in 'hard-to-heal' wounds also showed encouraging results, with the gel supporting healing in cases where standard approaches had been insufficient (2017, PMID: 28182518).
When You Might Consider a Beta-Glucan Hydrogel
Based on the published research, beta-glucan hydrogels have been studied in the context of:
- Post-procedure skin recovery (after microneedling, laser, or chemical peels)
- Minor burns and abrasions
- Acne scarring and post-breakout skin
- General skin barrier repair
- Scar management
Individual results vary. For significant wounds or scars, professional medical advice should always be sought.
TR Pro+ at Verdo
We carry TR Pro+ Healing Hydrogel — a clinically inspired formulation containing Glucoprime® beta-glucan. It's designed to be applied to clean skin as a thin, invisible layer that supports the skin's natural recovery environment.
Our therapists often recommend it following professional treatments like Skin Pen Microneedling or chemical peels, but it can also be used for everyday skin recovery needs.
The Bottom Line
Beta-glucan is one of the more interesting ingredients in skin repair research, with published evidence supporting its role in wound healing and scar quality. Hydrogel delivery appears to enhance these benefits by creating an optimal healing environment. While more research is always needed, the existing evidence base is encouraging.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The scientific references cited are from peer-reviewed journals and are provided for educational context. Individual results may vary. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new skincare treatment. Verdo Cosmetics makes no therapeutic claims about the products or services mentioned.
References
- Barsanti L, et al. (2018). β-Glucans: Multi-Functional Modulator of Wound Healing. Nutrients. PMID: 29614757
- Avenanthramide and β-Glucan Therapeutics Accelerate Wound Healing Via Distinct and Nonoverlapping Mechanisms. (2024). J Invest Dermatol. PMID: 38299969
- A hybrid hydrogel composed of chitin and β-glucan for the effective management of wound healing and scarring. (2022). PMID: 36073016
- Administration of skin care regimens containing β-glucan for skin recovery after fractional laser therapy. (2020). PMID: 33128496
- Clinical evaluation of a bioactive beta-glucan gel in the treatment of 'hard-to-heal' wounds. (2017). PMID: 28182518
