Skin care for scars: Where we have been and what's new

Background

The process of scar formation and wound healing is an important topic as different skin types can heal diversely. Scars of all ranges, from fine line scars that are barely a bother to hypertrophic and keloid scars accompanied by bothersome symptoms, have been trouble to treat with many diverse products and hypotheses historically. The diverse appearance of scars is astounding with colors, shapes, sizes, and symptoms, including pain and pruritis, affecting patients differently.

Methods

This paper will dive into the diverse treatments of scar therapy and different published studies done to prove efficacy, along with different scar subtypes.

Results

Treatments mentioned are topical and consist of silicone-based products, as well as non-silicone-based products, like onion extract, green tea, Aloe vera, hydrocolloid dressings, vitamin A derivatives, vitamin E, vitamin D, moist exposed burn ointment, imiquimod, and mitomycin.

Conclusion

In sum, wound healing is a difficult process and patient outcomes vary depending on skin and scar types, thus scar therapies should continue to be studied before concluding the best skin care for scars.