A wound healing powder, comprising a sugar selected from the group consisting of one or more pharmaceutically acceptable monosaccharides and disaccharides, in an amount of at least 25% by weight of the powder mixture; and an absorbent agent which forms a bioabsorbable biocompatible matrix with wound secretions, comprising a polymer formed of one or more of saccharide or saccharide derivative monomers and lactic acid monomers, in an amount of at least 25% by weight of the powder mixture.