The nitrate version of the beetroot juice also appeared to restore the function of the endothelium, which are the cells that line the inside of all blood vessels.
These cells are crucial for keeping blood vessels functioning normally, but this is lost in inflammation.
In the cream group, the blisters healed more quickly in the group who drank the nitrate-rich beetroot juice.
The researchers added: “The researchers believe that the increased levels of nitric oxide helped to speed-up how quickly the volunteers were able to recover from inflammation by switching key immune cells from a state that promotes inflammation to become more anti-inflammatory.