Scar Treatment - What are my options?

There are different options for scar treatment, all with varying degrees of efficacy and convenience. Silicone is considered one of the gold standards for scarring and can be used as a first-line therapy for scar treatment.1 Here are some other approaches:

Scar Treatment Options

Corticosteroids: Intralesional injections have been a main stay in scar treatment for many years. They can be painful but can be effective.

Laser therapy and dermabrasion: Laser therapy and dermabrasion scar treatment techniques have been used to treat acne scars or to smooth down scars with raised or uneven surfaces, however, they are less popular than they were because of increasing awareness of the potential complications and recurrence rates. The skin of patients who have undergone laser skin resurfacing takes several months to heal, often with considerable discomfort.

Compression therapy : Compression therapy involves pressure, which has long been known to have thinning effects on skin.

Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the scar tissue. Cryotherapy can cause pain and depigmentation in selected patients.

Surgery: Surgical revision of scars is usually done in one of two ways: removing and narrowing the original scar, or using special surgical techniques to change the direction of the original scar.2 Unfortunately, reports still indicate a 55-60% recurrence rate for keloids that have been surgically removed.3

Skin cosmetic camouflage: Camouflage creams can make a significant difference to the appearance of scars by providing effective, long-lasting, waterproof cover, however this is a cosmetic cover and not a treatment modality.

Other topical treatments: Other over the counter cosmetic treatments are available, including vitamin E, onion extract, green tea, etc. There is not a large body of evidence proving significant efficacy of these products. In fact, one study stated the application of vitamin E had no effect on, or even worsened, the cosmetic appearance of scars.4

Silicone gel / silicone gel sheeting: Use of silicone treatment should begin soon after the incision has fully closed, and be continued for at least two to three months with twenty four hour contact whenever possible. Silicone is available in sheets and gel. Both offer similar results but many find the gels to be more convenient to use, especially on visible areas or on scars over joints.

Kelo-cote® is a patented topical silicone gel for the management and prevention of abnormal scars in the form of hypertrophic scars and keloids. In a recent study with a treatment of a wide variety of scars, 80% of patients and 76% of physicians rated the overall efficacy of Kelo-cote® as “very good” or “good”.5

Kelo-cote® has also been successfully used to manage scars resulting from trauma, burns and surgery. Regardless of the origin of the scar, Kelo-cote® has proven results, as evidenced by clinical studies and satisfied healthcare professionals and customers from around the world.

References

1. Mustoe TA et el. Plast Reconstr Surg 2002;110:560-571.

2. English, R. Dermatol Surg. 1999;25: 631-638.

3. Brown, LA. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1986;12: 51-56.

4. Bauman L, Spencer J. Dermatol Surg. 1999;25:311-315.

5. Sepehrmanesh M. Komp Dermatologie 2006;1:30-32.