SILICONE GEL SHEETING FOR THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF EVOLVING HYPERTROPHIC AND KELOID SCARS

BACKGROUND. Hypertrophic scars and. keloids remain a problem for surge ons. Topical and intralesional corticosteroids, positive pressure dres sings, cryotherapy, and laser therapy ape helpful but not uniformly su ccessful. OBJECTIVE. TO document the effectiveness of silicone gel she eting in the prevention and/or reduction of evolving hypertrophic scar s and keloids. METHODS. Silicone,eel sheeting was placed over evolving scars in 20 cases. The dressing was worn for at least 12 hours a day. Biopsies were examined for the presence of silica in the tissue. RESU LTS. Lesions improved during the treatment period in 85% of the cases. The mechanisms of action are unknown. Positive pressure was not neces sary. No silica from the dressing was found at the wound site. CONCLUS ION. Daily treatments with silicone gel sheeting should begin as soon as an itchy red streak develops in a maturing wound. The dressing is e ffective in reducing the bulk of these lesions.