| 1. The Numbers Don't Lie. Scar Creams and Gels | | | | 2. The Science Doesn't Lie. Scar Creams and Gels |
| Work. | | | | Work |
| It is widely accepted that scar creams-containing | | | | Doctors still don't fully know why silicone |
| silicone-must be applied at least twice a day. | | | | works as scar treatment. They DO know that it |
| It is recommended that a scar cream or gel be | | | | does work. |
| used for multiple weeks. | | | | Silicone based treatments encourage the |
| In only four months, here are the results | | | | retention of moisture. Moisture is required for |
| discovered in a major medical center research | | | | quick healing of any wound. When healing is |
| study: | | | | speedier, scarring is less. |
| The size of scars decreased in 53% of test | | | | Silicone products encourage fading. As the |
| patients. | | | | color is erased, the scar appears smaller, flatter, |
| Scar tissue softened in 45% of patients | | | | and less noticeable. These are the twin goals of |
| studied. | | | | scar treatment. |
| Itching stopped for 45% of severe scarring | | | | University of Miami researchers tried to prove |
| victims. | | | | that silicone scar cream is a conduit for static |
| Tenderness was reduced in 36% of those | | | | electricity. Silicone attracts static electricity. The |
| suffering sensitivity to touch. | | | | electrons may encourage damaged fibers to |
| While one in ten people develop serious keloid or | | | | rearrange into softer, healthier form, resulting in |
| hypertrophic scarring, the numbers are much | | | | flatter, diminished scars. |
| higher in darker-pigmented skins. | | | | In the course of their study, the doctors used |
| This prompted a major study of the | | | | silicone ointments. While the results of the static |
| effectiveness of scar treatment products on | | | | electricity research were inconclusive, the study |
| brown skin. The researchers found the following | | | | did document how well silicone scar gel and cream |
| results in their test subjects. | | | | works to reduce and fade scars. |
| Doctors documented improvement in 50% of | | | | Continuing Science |
| cases. Improvement included fading and size and | | | | Several research studies continue to try to nail |
| swelling reduction. | | | | down the static electricity theory. |
| Improvement appeared within a span of three | | | | There is genetic research into how to "shut |
| to six months. | | | | down" the genes that "fire up" serious scar |
| This study kept silicone on the scars for | | | | formation. |
| twelve hours a day. | | | | The National Institutes of Health reports at |
| Within two weeks, or as soon as a wound closes, | | | | least 50 different studies into various treatments |
| you should start using the scar cream. | | | | for different kinds of scars. |
| Why is quick action essential? | | | | Silicone continues to be studied in a score of |
| One reason is new scars need soothing. They | | | | research projects currently assembling test |
| itch, but scratching hurts the fragile skin. They are | | | | subjects. Doctors aren't giving up on determining |
| swollen and hurt, and irritants such as simple | | | | how silicone works, because it could be a key to |
| moving air can be painful. | | | | understanding how to stop scars from forming in |
| A second reason is a danger of infection, which | | | | the first place. |
| slows or stops the healing process. Slow healing | | | | A footnote: The Miami study ruled out onion |
| increases scar tissue growth. | | | | extract as an effective scar cream ingredient. |