Sinclair Pharma Kelo-cote offers effective treatment for scarring
The Lauren Greenberg MD practice in California has listed on its blog scientific reasons for why Sinclair's Kelo-cote, a topical liquid silicone, offers an efficacious way to manage scarring from plastic surgery. By not relying on pressure, temperature, occlusion or oxygen tension, and reducing the water loss across the skin that causes the production of collagen, treatment with the gel has been shown to generate significant improvements in terms of factors such as scar pigmentation, size, vascularity and itchiness.

I want your scars to look pretty. Particularly in larger scar surgeries (think tummy tucks or breast reductions and breast lifts), the less you see the scar, the better everything is. There are some skin types which tend to scar more poorly (Asian skin, darker skin types, people with a history of hypertrophic or keloid scars).

This is a data sheet put out by the makers of biocorneum (so yes, take it with a grain of salt) which states 16 studies demonstrate why “biocorneum is the number 1 and only FDA cleared choice for initial scar management.” I do not own stock in biocorneum / Kelo-cote. I do not get kick backs. I simply like products which have scientific studies to prove their claims. And I simply want your scars to be pretty.

So.

How does it work?

Unlike other methods, it does not use pressure, temperature, oxygen tension, or occlusion.

It does involve hydrating the top layer of the skin, and helps the release of low molecular weight silicone fluid

It helps prevent water loss across the skin. Why does this matter? It is thought the hydration state of the skin cell signals fibroblasts to produce collagen (scar) Silicone gel increases production of basic fibroblast growth factors, which reduces collagen proliferation seen in hypertrophic scars.



Split scar studies showed

Silicone gel improved the appearance of scars on both the VSS and global physician evaluation over 3 months, but not on the untreated side.

When compared to placebo, silicone gel significantly improved scar pigmentation vascularity (redness) pliability height pain size itchiness

Treatment resulted in 67% of scars being rated normal (with no treatment 28% were rated normal) 26% rated as mildly elevated (with no treatment the rate was 46% mildly elevated, and 26% hypertrophic or keloid)

There was no difference in redness or brown pigmentation

No adverse events.

So what do I think?

As I have said before, I like pretty scars, and this product has scientific studies backing it up. It is not perfect. Some of my patients don’t like to have to wait for it to dry. If that is the case, I would recommend silicone sheets or tape. But it has been shown to be more efficacious than some other products on the market like mederma (onion extract). And for sure I like it better than Vitamin E.

Think of your healing scar like a sleeping baby. You want to treat it kindly, be gentle, don’t irriate it. That is what gives the best scar.