1. ¹Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Department of the Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
2. ²Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hand Surgery, and Burn Center, University Hospital of the RWTH-Aachen, Aachen, Germany

Correspondence: Dr Christoph V. Suschek, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hand Surgery, and Burn Center University Hospital of the RWTH-Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52057 Aachen, Germany. E-mail: csuschek@ukaachen.de

Abstract

Impaired cutaneous nitric oxide (NO) production is associated with diminished antioxidative capacity in skin cells, hindered wound healing, unbalanced inflammatory reactions, and disturbed immunological responses. Use of topically applied NO donors might represent an auspicious new therapeutic approach in the field of dermatology. But what is the appropriate NO–generating compound or system? In this issue, Mowbray et al. describe a new chemical inert NO donor that per se produces little inflammation in the skin.