HOW DOES SILICONE HEAL My SCARS?
When your skin is wounded due to an injury, surgery, or other trauma scar tissue develops as part of your body’s natural healing process. The formation of scar tissue is a complex process, which begins when your middle layer of skin is torn due to the injury. This stimulates cells called fibroblasts to grow into granulation tissue where they produce collagen to seal the wound. Collagen is a structural protein that gives the skin firmness and elasticity. Unfortunately, when the body produces too much collagen, the result is a raised, discolored scar.
Silicone gel possesses several actions that disrupts the scar formation process, thus helping to prevent as well as heal your scars. Below are mechanisms reported by the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery which explain how silicone gel heals scars.
Silicone gel heals scars by increasing hydration of the stratum corneum (the uppermost layer of the skin). This facilitates regulation of fibroblast production and also reduces collagen production. Essentially, this allows skin to “breathe”, thus resulting in a softer and flatter scar.
Silicone gel heals scars by balancing the expression of growth factors. Certain growth factors stimulate fibroblasts to synthesize more collagen and other growth factors increase the level of collagenases which break down the excess collagen. Silicone gel regulates these growth factors to normalize collagen synthesis.
Silicone gel heals scars by protecting the scarred tissue from bacterial invasion.
This is important because bacteria have the ability to induce excessive collagen production in the scar tissue.
Silicone gel reduces itching and discomfort associated with scars.
One study published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery examined 30 patients to determine the efficacy of silicone gel for the treatment of hypertrophic scars(thick raised scar) and keloids.
Hypertrophic scars are raised and red whereas keloid scars continue growing past the original scar boundaries with a raised and often lumpy appearance.
In this study, the patients applied a silicone gel as a thin film to the scar area twice a day. After 6 months, researchers found that the silicone gel produced an 86% reduction in texture, 84% in color, and 68% in height of scars. All silicone tapes, sheets, strips contain this important thin film of 100% silicone gel , which improve, heal and fast track scar repair, plus prevent keloid and hypertrophic Warmest wishes for a smooth healing journey. Lisa Raimondo