TOPICAL SILICONE GEL SHEETING IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTROPHIC SCARS AND KELOIDS - A DERMATOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE

BACKGROUND. Topical silicone gel sheeting has been used successfully in the management of hypertrophic and keloid scars resulting from thermal burn wounds. METHODS. An open-labelled approach using the silicone gel sheets was performed using hypertrophic and keloid scars secondary to surgical procedures or traumatic insults. RESULTS. The silicone gel sheets resulted in moderate improvement in scar thickness, scar color and was noted to be effective to some degree in all tested. The material was easy to use and painless. CONCLUSiON. Topical silicone gel sheeting is an effective method for the treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars and may be considered useful in the treatment of these difficult cutaneous lesions.