Hypertrophic and keloidal scars: an approach to polytherapy

• Published in: International journal of dermatology Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 324 - 327
• Main Authors: Boutli-Kasapidou, Fotini, Tsakiri, Amalia, Anagnostou, Eleni, Mourellou, Olga
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-04-2005; Blackwell Science; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic - therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Cryotherapy; Dermatology; Female; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Humans; Injections, Intralesional; Keloid - therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Silicone Gels - therapeutic use; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; Triamcinolone Acetonide - administration & dosage; Human; Corticosteroid; Skin disease; Intralesional administration; Cheloid; Dermatology; Scar; Local administration; Skin; Combined treatment; Cryotherapy; Siloxane polymer; Hypertrophy
• ISSN: 0011-9059; 1365-4632
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2004.02570.x

Background  Cryotherapy and intralesional corticosteroids have been used separately or in combination as a treatment for hypertrophic and keloidal scars. The addition of silicone gel to the treatment schedule might be of interest.
Methods  Twenty patients with hypertrophic and keloidal scars received two 15‐s cycles (in total 30 s) of cryotherapy treatments at every session (once monthly for 12 months) with intralesional injections of trimcinolone acetonide 0.1% (10–40 mg/mL, once monthly for 3 months). Topical application of silicone gel was added three times daily (for 12 months). The control group included 10 patients who received treatment with silicone sheeting.
Results  After 1 year there was improvement in all the parameters studied, especially in terms of symptoms, cosmetic appearance and associated signs (P < 0.0001) compared to baseline and compared to the control group.
Conclusion  Our study suggests that polytherapy may be an effective tool in the therapy of hypertrophic and keloidal scars.