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Silicone Strips – How Do they Work?
An overwhelming body of clinical evidence suggests that silicone strips can significantly improve the appearance of surgical scars through the following mechanisms:
Improves wound hydration and occlusion
Silicone strips help prevent the stratum corneum, the outermost skin layer, from getting dehydrated. It retains water levels in the skin, thus providing adequate hydration to the newly formed, underdeveloped stratum corneum. In addition, silicone strips create a level of occlusion that is very similar to normal skin, which in turn reduces the activity of inflammatory cytokines and fibroblasts (cells involved in wound healing and scar formation).
Reduces wound tension
Silicone strips transfer tension from the wound edges to the silicone sheet, which provides an ideal environment for normal scar formation because this mechanism reduces the risk of additional damage to the scar area.
Decreases blood flow to the scar site
Silicone strips have been found to inhibit hyperaemia, the body’s natural reaction to skin injury which is characterised by increased blood flow to the site of damaged tissues. This in turn reduces blood supply to the scar site, resulting in decreased scar formation.
Contributes to the alignment of structural proteins
Proper alignment of structural proteins during the wound healing phase is known to prevent the formation of raised scars. By creating friction between the sheet and the skin, silicone strips generate a negatively charged static electric field that aids in the proper alignment of structural proteins.
So there we have it !
Straight from Dr Mark Gittos - New Zealand Plastic surgeon's website
Warmest hugs
Lisa
Silikan Customer Care
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