Silicone Scar Treatment | Clinically Proven to be Effective

A non invasive, easy to use, low risk of side effects, effective scar improvement method

Confirming my own findings, Wikipedia also states silicone gel sheeting having the most widely accepted role in general scar treatment together with steroid injections. Compared to steroid injections silicone scar sheets and gels are considered less invasive, easier to use and with lower risks of side effects.

Wikipedia also says: "Silicone sheeting technology is used by plastic surgeons and burn centers to provide patients with optimal results. In the past, silicone gel sheets were thick and uncomfortable and susceptible to cracking and breakdown, but newer technologies have improved performance."

Another great benefit of silicone scar treatment is that it reduces the risk of developing hypertrophic or keloid scars. When it comes to scar treatment products, silicone sheets really are the best buy.

There is scientific proof silicone sheets (or patches as they are called also) work. When searching the Internet for "the international clinical recommendations on scar management" some studies can be found.

Silicone Treatment for Hypertrophic & Keloid Scars

Silicone sheets and gels are best for flattening, softening and decreasing redness of scars

Something about Scar Tissue

What is a scar and which different types of scars are there?

A scar is a wound inflicted area where the normal skin is replaced by fibrous tissue. This tissue exists of collagen fibers that are produced as part of the repair process. When an injury of the skin results in a scar it either leaves a pigmented mark or an increased amount of tissue, so called scar tissue.

Scars can be roughly divided into the following types:

• hypertrophic scars; red, thick and raised.


• keloid scars; grow beyond the original wound, can be painful or itchy


• Atrophic scars are skin depressions or indentations, often a result of acne


• contracture scars; tightening of the skin

Effective Scar Treatment

4 essential factors regarding effective scar treatment

Not only according to my experiences but also clinical trials show the best way to treat scars at home are silicone sheets. They really work. A marginal note though; getting rid of scars completely is almost impossible. Scars can be improved.

You can talk about reducing or fading scars or smoothing scars but most of the times a scar will never disappear completely. Although I have to admit that one scar on my cheek has healed that much that it almost can't be seen anymore. Not even from very close distance.

As far as doctors and scientists know there are 4 factors that play a mayor role in effective scar treatment:

• moisture


• oxygen


• silicones


• warmth

Read how to make use of these factors in the best scar treatment tips further on this page.

Did you know..

Even when scars are covered with clothing sunblock should be applied to the scar, because the SPF factor of most clothing is very low. For example, the SPF factor of a white cotton T-shirt is less than 10.

My most problematic scar

One part of the 20 cm long vertical scar on my chest was problematic from the beginning. It seems this is a very delicate and vulnerable part of the skin on the chest. When I bend my head on my chest its the part just below my chin touching my chest.

Some scars, particularly in the sternum, shoulder, shinbone (tibia), jawbone, and earlobe heal slower. They also tend to become more prominent.

It started with not healing appropriate. Where the rest of the wound was already healed this part stayed an open wound for a much longer time. Later on when the scar was improving this part stayed thicker and more red. The technical name for this is hypertrophic. I considered a steroid injection but eventually decided not to. (Actually I forgot about my appointment, unconsciously being aware of the risk I guess)

About a year later I noticed the scar had healed pretty well and was nice flat and the color was better, more skin like. So after all I am glad I didn't opt for the steroid injection because it seems many times it doesn't work or can even make it worse. The scar will heal itself every time it is messed with so leaving it will eventually be the best solution.

Silicone Scar Sheets are better than Gel

Silicone Gel Patches vs. Silicone Gel Cream

when to apply patches (sheets) and when gel?

Sheets / patches
Silicone sheets (patches) are solid. I myself used A4 sized sheets which could be cut into the precise proportion I needed for the particular scar. Advantage of silicone sheets is that they can cover a big area at once. Apart from that my own personal finding was that the sheets worked more efficiently.

Gels
Silicone gels are liquid. The gel lays a minuscule silicone film over the scar.
I used the Zeraderm brand. It comes in a little tube that looks like a little glue tube. Advantage of the silicone gel is that it can be applied on scars that are exposed when you are out in public. Or when it is difficult to attach sheets to some parts of the body like joints and the face. In these cases gel can be a good alternative or actually more like an addition to the sheets. Because like I said, I found out that the sheets worked better for me.

So let's say you have a scar in your face and you don't want wear a silicone patch in public. I would wear the patch at night and use the gel during the day. Depending how many hours a day you want to apply the silicones. I chose to use them about 16 hours a day.

I used the sheets for the bigger scars on my body. I cut them to the appropriate size and applied the sheet with silk tape. I treated the smaller scars with the Zeraderm scar gel. Since Zeraderm isn't available in the States I guess Kelo Cote would make a good alternative. This is also a silicone based scar gel.

"The use of silicone cream alone compared with silicone cream with occlusive dressing showed 22% and 82% scar improvement, respectively, with respect to erythema, tenderness, pruritus, and hardness. These results supported that occlusion may be synergistic in wound healing and suggested that silicone gel alone may not be as effective as silicone sheeting." *

* Source: Topical treatments for hypertrophic scars. Joanna M. Zurada, AB, David Kriegel, MD, and Ira C. Davis, MD

How Do Silicone Scar Sheets Work?

What do silicone sheets do for your skin

What are silicone sheets?
A scar silicone sheet actually is a mineral based gel membrane created from medical polymer materials. (Technical name; polysiloxane) The sheets are soft, transparent and sticky on one side so they can be attached easily to the skin. The material is capable of allowing moisture and oxygen pass trough.

How do silicone scar sheets work?
How they work is not sure. They think it has something to do with electro static energy. By applying the silicone sheet a static-electric field will exist between the sheet and the skin. This electro static energy probably smoothens and flattens the scar and also creates an increased blood flow which results into an improved skin tone. Not only do silicone sheets improve appearance of scars they also prevent further scar formation. It also seems that the electro static field improves the irregular collagen structure from a scar. And furthermore they should contribute to moisturizing the skin.

How To Use Silicone Scar Sheets.

How long should I wear the silicone sheet for maximum scar reduction?

It is important to apply the sheets consistently. I used them every day for about at least 12 hours. Mostly about 16 hours during the day. At night I gave my scars time to 'breathe'. Some manufacturers however, advice to wear the sheet 24 hours a day. Although I didn't do this the sheets worked fine for me and the result turned out to be satisfying. It always seemed a bit unnatural to me to wear the sheets continuously.

I did this for about 4 months for the biggest scars. I attached the sheets with silk tape. But you can also use compression garments to keep the sheet attached closely to the scar. Sometimes the sheets didn't stick very well because I had already used them for a while or because of transpiration. I made sure to reattach the sheet or replace it with a new one.

• direct upon the skin


• make sure the skin and sheet are clean and dry


• attach with silk tape or micropore tape (3M) (or a compression garment) if necessary


• wear them consistently

Silicone Sheet Offers Immediate Sensitive Scar Relief

Another benefit of wearing silicone sheets had to do with the most problematic scar of mine. The part of the scar on my chest that was widened, raised, stiff, and purple colored. There's not much tissue there. In fact it's very delicate skin almost directly on the sternal bone. I guess this combination of delicate skin and the stiff scar placed on the bone is what made it so sensitive.

Also the location, there's much friction with clothes, zippers from jackets, buttons, and seat belts made this hypertrophic part of my scar very annoying. Sometimes it did hurt but mostly it just was a very unpleasant feeling. I don't really know how to describe it. My point is that wearing the silicone scar sheets offered relief. It formed a buffer between the sensitive scar and the things frustrating it. In my opinion this is another benefit of wearing the sheets.

Medical Grade Silicone Scar Sheets

"Silicone is the clinical gold standard for scar treatment and scar prevention having demonstrated clinical efficacy over all other forms of topical treatments and is recommended by the "International Advisory Panel on Scar Management" as the first line therapy for various types* of scars"