In 2002, Arno Sipponen MD, a specialist in orthopaedics and traumatology, began work as a general practitioner in Finnish Lapland where, together with his colleagues, he started to wonder how it was that the local people were so skilful in treating wounds with home-made resin salve. At that time, Arno’s father was Head of the Clinical Pathology Department at Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH). Together they established a multidisciplinary research group to study resin as a method of treatment for wounds.

Studies soon showed that resin salve made using modern methods without heating was safe to use. Still today, these characteristics form the basis of all Repolar products. The Norway spruce resin that we use in manufacturing is always collected with reverence for nature and without harming the trees.

“When a tree suffers a wound, a branch tears or winter weather breaks its bark, the tree produces resin to allow it to heal itself. In our research, we have comprehensively studied the inbuilt defence mechanisms of conifers that protect them from bacteria, fungus and yeast. A tree must constantly protect itself, and resin is its unique means of defence,” says Arno.

Repolar was established in 2006 by the Sipponen family of doctors together with a few colleagues. The company researches, develops and markets treatment products for humans and animals based on the active ingredients of spruce resin. All products are based on comprehensive, scientific research. The Finnish Key Flag-accredited products are particularly targeted at the treatment of wounds and skin, both in domestic and professional settings. The company’s quality management system is ISO 13485-certified.

The company’s first two products are based on raw resin. Abilar® 10% Resin Salve meant for the treatment of wounds was launched in 2008 and Abicin® 30% Resin Lacquer intended for the treatment of fungal nail infections and paronychia just one year later in 2009. With the help of Resol Technology developed by Repolar in 2013, the company began to manufacture a non-sticky resin solution from resin. These antimicrobial resin solutions enable the even more diverse development of products intended for the treatment of people and animals. Of Repolar’s products, those based on Resol Technology are Abicare® Shampoo for the treatment of dandruff, AbiCare® ACNE for the treatment of acne, irritated skin and rashes, and the Ani- series of products for the treatment of animals: AniVox® Ear Wash, AniWipe® Wet Wipes, AniLavo® Rinsing Liquid, AniDes® Wound Spray and AniWash® Treatment Shampoo.

Repolar is constantly carrying out further research to promote the well-being of people and animals, and among the permanent staff of the company are, for example, people with educational backgrounds in medicine, chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Repolar also actively cooperates with different research organisations in order to increase objective knowledge about the properties of resin.