Help for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers can be healed by acne medication.

Recent finding: In a study of 22 men with diabetes, more than 84% of ulcers treated with topical tretinoin (Retin-A), a popular acne medication, and antibacterial cadexomer iodine gel shrunk by at least half. In the group treated with a placebo solution and cadexomer iodine gel, 45.4% of ulcers shrunk by half.

Theory: Tretinoin stimulates blood vessel growth, which helps deliver oxygen to the wound site. Left untreated, diabetic ulcers may increase risk for amputation.