An excess of 70 million
cutaneous surgical procedures are conducted annually in the United States that may result in
scarring. Skin
scars are a normal outcome of the tissue repair process. However, individuals with abnormal
scarring may have aesthetic, psychological, and social consequences. As a result, there is a high patient demand for products that will reduce the
scarring. The principles underlying
scar formation are now better understood. Products are being developed to address those critical components of the wound-healing process, namely
inflammation, hydration, and
collagen maturation. A multicomponent
scar product was previously shown effective in preventing exaggerated
scarring in patients undergoing various
surgical procedures. The present outpatient study was conducted in patients undergoing shave biopsies. Following reepithelialization, this investigator-blinded, randomized, 8-week trial compared twice-daily application of either the
scar product or the standard of care,
white petrolatum. Evaluation visits were conducted at baseline and at weeks, 1, 2, 4 and 8. Subjects were evaluated by the blinded investigator for clinical efficacy and tolerability using grading scales. Standardized digital photographs were taken at each visit, and subjects completed a self-assessment questionnaire regarding treatment effectiveness and satisfaction. Twenty-eight subjects completed the 8-week study. The
scar product provided earlier improvements than the
white petrolatum. At week 1, 70% of subjects receiving the
scar product demonstrated at least 50% global improvement in
scar appearance vs only 42% of the subjects receiving
white petrolatum. The more rapid improvement was accompanied by greater reductions in stinging/burning and
itching with the
scar product at all visits. Importantly, there was also greater subject satisfaction with the
scar product at all visits. This
scar product may be useful in hastening the healing of cutaneous shave biopsies and reducing the stinging/burning and
itching associated with the normal healing process.