Topical Scar Treatment Products for Wounds: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing number of over-the-counter topical products that are said to prevent pathologic scar formation and improve scar cosmesis. However, robust clinical data are lacking to substantiate these claims and to guide selection of topical products. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of topical scar management products, including silicone gel, Allium cepa onion extract, vitamin E, trolamine, and microporous tape. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A PubMed search (2005-2019) was performed to identify studies of topical scar management products. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs, meta-analyses, and controlled clinical trials were included for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 34 trials were included in this study. Of the 16 trials investigating silicone gel sheets, numerous high-quality RCTs found that silicone gel sheets and silicone gels significantly improved scar outcomes. Only a limited number of studies supported the effectiveness of onion extract, vitamin E, trolamine, and microporous tape products. CONCLUSION: Silicone gel products are an effective noninvasive treatment to prevent formation of pathologic scars and improve mature scars. Further high-quality studies are needed to elucidate the long-term effectiveness of these therapies.

Nanoparticles in dermatologic surgery.

Nanotechnology is an emerging branch of science that involves the engineering of functional systems on the nanoscale (1-100 nm). Nanotechnology has been used in biomedical and therapeutic agents with the aim of providing novel treatment solutions where small molecule size may be beneficial for modulation of biologic function. Recent investigation in nanomedicine has become increasingly important to cutaneous pathophysiology, such as functional designs directed towards skin cancers and wound healing. This review outlines the application of nanoparticles relevant to dermatologic surgery.