Back to Journals » Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology » Volume 6
Management of keloids and hypertrophic scars: current and emerging options
Authors Gauglitz GG
Received 15 February 2013
Accepted for publication 11 March 2013
Published 24 April 2013 Volume 2013:6 Pages 103—114
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S35252
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 5
Gerd G Gauglitz
Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
Abstract: In the context of growing aesthetic awareness, a rising number of patients feel disappointed with their scars and are frequently seeking help for functional and aesthetic improvement. However, excessive scarring following surgery or trauma remains difficult to improve despite a plethora of advocated treatment strategies as frequently observed in daily clinical routine. It is thus still preferable to prevent scarring by minimizing risk factors as much as possible. Hence, it remains crucial for the physician to be aware of basic knowledge of healing mechanisms and skin anatomy, as well as an appreciation of suture material and wound closure techniques to minimize the risk of postoperative scarring. Next to existing, well known prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for the improvement of excessive scarring, this article discusses emerging techniques such as intralesional cryotherapy, intralesional 5-fluorouracil, interferon, and bleomycin. Some of them have been successfully tested in well-designed trials and already have extended or may extend the current spectrum of excessive scar treatment in the near future. Innovative options such as imiquimod 5% cream, photodynamic therapy, or botulinum toxin A may also be of certain importance; however, the data currently available is too contradictory for definite recommendations.
Keywords: intralesional cryotherapy, lasers, triamcinolone acetonide, TGF-β
© 2013 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.