Estimates from the medical community suggest that perhaps some 100 million plus individuals throughout the world develop scars every year. Of course scars differ widely in their characteristics and severity, and thus their effects on individual patients. In some cases they pose no problems whatsoever, while in others their effects can be more troubling. These effects may include pain, itching, lack of mobility, anxiety, sleep disturbance, depression and diminished self esteem.

Despite all of this, there are limited viable options available for effectively treating scars. That is not to say there is a lack of products available claiming to heal scars. On the contrary, an internet search of the topic will reveal page after page of products claiming to heal any and all types of scars, regardless of their characteristics, age or severity. However, many of these products offer little or no legitimate published data to substantiate their claims.

We suggest that when searching for a scar treatment product one should pay close attention to the ingredient list.  By far, the most effective ingredient in topical scar treatment products is silicone.  There are numerous studies published in reputable medical journals substantiating the safety and effectiveness of silicone products.  These products are available in two main forms … topical sheets and spreadable gels.

Silicone sheets have long been an accepted form of effective scar treatment by the medical community, particularly by Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Surgeons and Dermatologists.  Silicone sheets are worn like a band aid over the top of the scar.  They generally come in larger sheets that can be cut to size as needed.  In some cases they can be cleaned and re-used.  While medical studies confirm their effectiveness, there are some drawbacks to this form of treatment. Specifically, the sheets are cumbersome to keep fixed to the scar site, they are unsightly when used on scars not covered by clothing, and in some cases they may cause irritation of the skin, particularly in warmer climates where extreme perspiration may occur.  They can be very difficult to use on certain areas of the body such as on skin folds and around facial features. Due to these drawbacks, patient compliance can become an issue.  Often patients don’t wear the sheets consistently throughout the entire course of treatment, leading to poor overall results.

The more recent development of silicone gel in a spreadable form is a viable answer to the problems mentioned above. These gels come in a tube and are applied like a cream. They are massaged onto the scar site a couple of times per day and once applied are generally invisible and more comfortable for the user. In addition, cosmetics or sunscreen can be applied on top of the gel. Studies have shown these gels to be effective on par with silicone sheets and patient compliance appears to be easier to achieve.  For these reasons most, but not all patients prefer silicone gel over silicone sheeting.

It should be noted that while several topical treatments are available on the market, they contain varying degrees of the key ingredient, silicone. Some have no silicone at all while others are nearly all silicone. One should be careful to check that the product they select is composed primarily of silicone. It is ok and perhaps good for there to be a small percentage of other ingredients such as Vitamins, Sunscreens or Co-Enzyme Q10 as well.

You have scars, we have solutions.

An internet search for products that help improve the appearance of scars will produce enough results to leave your head spinning.  There is no shortage of creams, gels, lotions and sheets available.  One could literally spend days going through all the websites promoting products that claim to heal scars.

How then does one wade through all of those websites and make the right decision? To be more specific, how does one avoid unnecessarily spending their hard earned money on a useless product? We have developed the following  guide to help make the process a little easier. These are six questions (in no particular order) we believe you should consider while making the decision as to which scar treatment product to purchase:

Is the manufacturer realistic with their claims?
If it sounds too good to be true, then maybe it is.  Be very skeptical of any manufacturer that makes broad, sweeping claims such as “this product heals all types of scars” or “this product heals all scars, regardless of how old they are”. Rather, look for one that gives specific information relative to how and when their product works best and more importantly, specifies the limitations of their product.  Topical Scar Treatment products can be very effective at improving the size and intensity of scars, however there are certain limitations such as the age of the scar, the type of scar, etc.  A reputable company should be willing to share this information with you.  Another claim you will see regularly goes something like this:  “The number one product for scar treatment” or “The most often doctor recommended scar treatment product.”  Ask yourself how anyone really knows that to be the case or how one would go about proving these claims.  If a company making such claims offers proof, fantastic.  It is probably a product worth considering.

Is the product backed by a satisfaction guarantee?
This is one way you will know if a company truly believes in the effectiveness of their product. A word of caution here: check out the guarantee closely. It should be clearly stated and without hassle. If there is a list of ridiculous conditions associated with it then it may turn out to be no guarantee at all. Most companies will announce their guarantee on their website, which is far better than a verbal guarantee.  A written guarantee demonstrates more of a commitment.

Is the product backed by scientific studies?
Studies highlighting the effectiveness of the product are always a plus. But be careful here. Look for studies published in professional journals or other reputable publications. Anybody can mock up a study to make their product look good, however it is difficult to get a bogus study printed in a reputable publication. Another plus is a double blind study, where the participants are using the product being studied along with a placebo, and are unaware which product is real and which is the Placebo.  Scientific studies can be hard to follow, with a lot of terminology not familiar to most of us.  Generally you should be able to skip through all of that and go to the summary, where the results are provided.

What are the main ingredients in the product?
Take a close look at the ingredient list and find out if there is any evidence that suggests the ingredients listed are effective for scar treatment. Hint, silicone is the most proven ingredient for effective topical scar treatment.  Many products are full of fancy vitamins and other ingredients that sound good but haven’t been proven effective.  However there are countless reputable scientific studies substantiating the effectiveness of silicone.

Is the product recommended by medical professionals?
If possible, find out if the product is recommended by physicians. Plastic Surgeons in particular will recommend scar treatment products to their patients and it is in their best interest to recommend effective products. After all, Plastic Surgery is an image conscience industry.

How long has the product been on the market?
A product doesn’t need to have a long history to be effective, but generally speaking a product won’t be around for an extended period of time if it doesn’t work.  Likewise, a long history is often evidence that the manufacturer is legitimate.

So, there you have it. A product wouldn’t necessarily have to meet all of the criteria established in the list to qualify as worthy. The list is simply designed to give you some guidelines to think about and help you make a more informed decision. There are some very legitimate, effective products on the market and the right product for one may not be the best for another.  For more information on scars and scar treatment, please feel free to call us at 1(800)771-2215.

February is Heart Month. This brings to mind the topic of heart surgery, which is a way to treat problems such as coronary heart disease and heart failure. Heart surgery is also used for transplants and repairing heart valves. Much preparation is done for heart surgery, and it varies slightly depending on what type.

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, the most common type of surgery is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), which is commonly referred to as simply a heart bypass. During surgery, an incision is made down the center of the chest. The rib cage and breastbone are cut, giving the surgeon access. This is called a sternotomy. When repairs are complete, the bone is then wired back together and the incision closed.

After surgery, the patient usually has a recovery time of six to 12 weeks, depending on the exact procedure. The incision area on the chest eventually develops a scar as the skin heals. Incisions are usually about six to eight inches long. For some men, chest hair may grow back on either side, covering the scar and making it less noticeable. Women don’t have that advantage, and it may be visible when wearing certain types of clothing. Sternotomy scars usually heal to a thin, visible white line. Silicone scar gel, such as Scarfade, is used to reduce the visibility.

It’s not uncommon for sternotomy scars to heal abnormally, however. According to a study recently published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, one out of 10 sternotomy patients has  hypertrophic scarring. These types of scars have discoloration and unusual contours. They are often red, raised and itchy. There are different types of scar treatment available for hypertrophic scars, including pulsed dye laser (PDL), and scar revision surgery. Hypertrophic scars are usually smaller after these treatments, but are still visible and sometimes grow back. Scar reduction cream is useful in treating these scars. The gel form of Scarfade is applied on top of the hypertrophic sternotomy scar to help it become less visible and eventually less itchy. Silicone-based scar cream can be used instead of or in addition to laser treatments or scar reduction surgery. It is available without a prescription, but should be used within one year of surgery for best results.