Placebo responses have been shown to affect the symptomatology of
skin diseases. However, expectation-induced placebo effects on wound healing processes have not been investigated yet. We analysed whether subjects' expectation of receiving an active drug accelerates the healing process of experimentally induced
wounds. In 22 healthy men (experimental group, n = 11; control group, n = 11)
wounds were induced by ablative
laser on both thighs. Using a deceptive paradigm, participants in the experimental group were informed that an innovative '
wound gel' was applied on one of the two
wounds, whereas a 'non-active gel' was applied on the
wound of the other thigh. In fact, both
gels were identical
hydrogels without any active components. A control group was informed to receive a non-active gel on both
wounds. Progress in wound healing was documented via planimetry on days 1, 4 and 7 after
wound induction. From day 9 onwards
wound inspections were performed daily accompanied by a change of the dressing and a new application of the gel. No significant differences could be observed with regard to duration or process of wound healing, either by intraindividual or by interindividual comparisons. These data document no expectation-induced placebo effect on the healing process of experimentally induced
wounds in healthy volunteers.