Using a model of pure epidermal wounds in normal human volunteers, we have studied the effects of Biafine emulsion firstly on inflammatory cell migration, vascular permeability and cytokine release during the first 24 h, and secondly on epidermal wound healing by measuring transepidermal water loss from day 1 to day 7. Under these conditions, Biafine does not improve epidermal healing, in contrast to what is observed with bleeding dermoepidermal wounds. Our results suggest that the effects of Biafine are essentially at the dermis level. The analysis of epidermal wound exudates leads to the same conclusion. As a matter of fact, we demonstrated that Biafine is chemotactic for macrophages and increases the IL-1/IL-6 ratio, chiefly by reducing the secretion of IL-6. This study permits to progressively clarify the mode of action of Biafine, that seems to be located at the level of granulation tissue formation and not at the epidermal level.