Cytokine mRNA Changes during the Treatment of Hypertrophic Scars with Silicone and Nonsilicone Gel Dressings

Abstract

This study demonstrates that silicone is not a necessary component of occlusive dressings in the treatment of hypertrophic scars. The pathogenesis of hypertrophic scars is further elucidated by demonstrating that there is molecular evidence for extensive connective tissue remodeling occurring during occlusive dressing therapy.

Development, validation and testing of a human tissue engineered hypertrophic scar model

“…The decrease in both IL-6 and CXCL8 secretion was characteristic for the HTscar model only and, therefore, it would now be interesting to determine whether Htscars in vivo also showed decreased expression of these cytokines. In literature, no consensus was reached whether IL-6 and CXCL8 are up-or down-regulated during HTscar formation (Zhou et al, 1997;Ricketts et al, 1996;Wang et al, 2011). The confusion may be due to size, location, and age of the studied scar samples.…”

Prospective, Single-blind, Randomized, Controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy of the 585-nm Flashlamp-Pumped Pulsed-Dye Laser and Silicone Gel Sheeting in Hypertrophic Scar Treatment

“…Finally, several uncontrolled SGS and FLPDL hypertrophic scar studies have included hypertrophic scars younger than 1 year. 12,14,15,22,25,26 In these articles, it is not clear whether the hypertrophic scars would have resolved without treatment. A control site was included in our study to account for the possibility of spontaneous hypertrophic scar resolution.…”

“…25 However, in 1989, Ahn et al 22 found no histological evidence of silicone in biopsy specimens of SGS-treated scars. Results of more recent studies 13,14,39 show that occlusive dressings, with or without silicone, can be effective in treating hypertrophic scars and conclude that hydration, not silicone, is what modulates scar formation. A reduction in fibroblast production and collagen proliferation in hydrated or occluded wounds has also been reported.…”

“…5 If SGS treatment reduces hypertrophic scar formation, it is possibly through regulation of the cytokine network. 14 Three additional factors may have resulted in similar clinical improvements among the control and treated sections. First, because the treated areas were adjacent to the control sites, the SGS or FLPDL may have had a "global" effect resulting in clinical improvement in the control areas.…”

“…Many treatments such as use of intralesional corticosteroids, excision, pressure therapy, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, and carbon dioxide laser ablation have been tried with limited success. [5][6][7] Results of more recent studies show the 585-nm flashlamppumped pulsed-dye laser (FLPDL) [8][9][10][11][12] and silicone gel sheeting (SGS) [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] to be effective in hypertrophic scar therapy. However, few studies were masked or well controlled.…”