Title:The Effectiveness of Topical Anti-scarring Agents and a Novel Combined Process on Cutaneous Scar Management
Volume: 23
Issue: 15
Author(s): Qing-Qing Fang, Chun-Ye Chen, Min-Xia Zhang, Chun-Lan Huang, Xiao-Wei Wang, Ji-Hua Xu, Li-Hong Wu, Li-Yun Zhang and Wei-Qiang Tan*
Affiliation:
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, #79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310003,China
Keywords:
Cutaneous scar, wound repair, topical therapy, keloid, hypertrophic scar, anti-scarring agents, scar management, combined treatment.
Abstract: Cutaneous scars (particularly hypertrophic and keloid scars), not only can cause adverse cosmetic problems,
but also can be associated with emotional distress such as anxiety and depression. Comparing with other surgical
treatments, patients who do not opt for or cannot opt for invasion therapies are more eligible for using the
topical anti-scarring agents. In this mini-review, we have researched for and collected the data between October
2005 and October 2015, in PubMed and Web of Science, and identified those agents including silicone-based
products, imiquimod, corticosteroids, 5-fluorouracil, bleomycin, mitomycin, and plant extracts such as onion
extract, asiaticoside, aloe vera, vitamin E, and so on. Besides, we have listed these popular products in commercial
market with their useful information. We have also described the combined process according to our clinical
experience. However, to establish the more effective treatment among different types of topical agents or their
combined process, large, well-designed head-to-head comparisons between individual and combined preparations
in relevant patient populations are urgently needed.
