Silicone strips are a topical treatment, but they have the ability to reach deeper layers of the skin to help reduce the presence of visible scars over time. They are not inexpensive and they require extra care during your healing period, but for some patients, they may help reduce scars over time.
Most of the products are reusable and will continue to work for six to eight weeks. You may need to carry on using silicone for several months, depending on how quickly your scars respond to the treatment. Your therapist will continue to assess you and give advice.
Overall, it's clear the both silicone gel sheeting and topical silicone gels represent effective treatment options for scar management. NewGel+ offers both silicone gel and sheets, as well as many other products that have been shown to improve the appearance of scars.
Effectiveness — Evidence shows that silicone scar sheets like ScarAway can prevent hypertrophic (raised) scars and keloids. Professionally-Recommended. Many dermatologists and plastic surgeons consider silicone sheets to be the only proven home remedy for scars.
8 The other documented side effects are skin rash, maceration due to sweating, foul smell, poor durability.
How long do you wear the sheets? We recommend wearing the sheets for 12 to 22 hours, making sure you remove them daily to allow the area to be washed and cleaned. Most people wear them for about 3 months.
I would say most people seem to prefer the silicone gel over the sheeting for its overall ease of use. Ease of use typically leads to better results, as patients are more likely to consistently follow the recommended treatment plan when a product is more convenient for them to use.
The recommendation is to use silicone for 12 hours per day on the scar. You should not start the therapy until the wound is completely healed with no scabby areas or areas that look wet. The scar should be completely dry and perfectly healed (usually about 3 weeks after injury assuming a well-healed scar).
Silicone sheets have been universally accepted as the criterion standard in scar management,1 but they are difficult to apply to the head and neck area or across joints. Paper tape is a much cheaper and easy-to-apply dressing and has been proven to prevent hypertrophic scarring.
SILAGEN® CAN HELP SOFTEN, FLATTEN, AND REDUCE THE REDNESS OF HYPERTROPHIC SCARS AND KELOIDS, EVEN WHEN OTHER TREATMENTS FAIL. Clinical studies show benefits of silicone therapy on scars up to 4 years old.
【REUSABLE and WASHABLE】: Silicone scar removal sheets each piece can be used repeatedly for 14 days, when the silicone scar strips is difficult to clean or paste, you need to replace another new scar removal patch.
Can I reuse the pieces, or will I have to place a new one on each time? Answer: You can absolutely buy the silicone scar treatment in larger sheets and cut them yourself. You can also wash and reuse the sheets, although the adhesive quality may diminish as a result.
Silicone restores that hydration, locking the moisture in that your body would otherwise lose naturally. And because scar tissue is vulnerable to hyperpigmentation from the sun's UV rays, silicone gels and sheets shade the scar so it doesn't darken.
Bio-Oil helps to improve the appearance of new or old scars; whether from surgery, accidents, burns, insect bites, scratches or conditions such as acne or chickenpox. Although younger scars will have a greater chance of improvement, studies have shown that older scars also benefit from regular use of Bio-Oil.
ScarAway Clear Silicone Scar Sheets are water-resistant and will remain in place during short-term exposure to water, such as showering. Do not expose to water for prolonged periods, such as swimming or bathing.
Wash the gel sheet daily using lukewarm soapy water, rinse well and dry by patting it with a non-fluffy towel. Wear the same piece of silicone until it starts to deteriorate, then replace it with a new piece. Cica-care (a clear, thick, gel sheet ) will last for 4 weeks.
After 6 months, researchers found that the silicone gel produced an 86% reduction in texture, 84% in color, and 68% in height of scars.
[8,9] Silicon gel exerts several actions which may explain this benefit in scars: It increases hydration of stratum corneum and thereby facilitates regulation of fibroblast production and reduction in collagen production. It results into softer and flatter scar.
One tip for taking care of scars is to use a topical ointment. Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible.
The verdict. Silicone sheeting and silicone ointments are both highly effective and safe methods for flattening and reducing the appearance of keloid and hypertrophic scars. The decision to use one over the other depends on personal preference, scar size, and scar location.
Silicone strips are a topical treatment, but they have the ability to reach deeper layers of the skin to help reduce the presence of visible scars over time. They are not inexpensive and they require extra care during your healing period, but for some patients, they may help reduce scars over time.
You should massage your scars as instructed for at least six months following your surgery or injury. Massaging for more than six months will not hurt your scars and may actually prove beneficial.
Rub the sheet with a few drops of Scarban silicone cleaning soap or neutral soap and lukewarm water. Rinse the Scarban silicone sheet well under lukewarm, running water so that all dirt and soap residue is removed. After contact with soap and water, the adhesive strenght disappears and the silicone sheet rolls up.
The Connection Between Old Scars and Itching
Scars from burns, contractures, may make your skin stretch tightly. Healed burn scars may often trigger an itchy sensation due to the skin tightness.