Scars do not yield to improvement easily, especially red, dark, or raised ones. The disfigurement from a scar depends on how large it is, where it’s placed, how high it is raised, and, especially, how dark it is. The discovery of silicone gel sheeting has transformed the treatment of scars; and even patients with disfiguring scars from an old wound can find some hope here.
Silicone gel combines a silicone membrane and a gel, a combination that makes it durable; it also makes it comfortable to wear. Other silicone gel sheets tend to crumble. Since they are so durable, silicone scar reduction sheets can be applied to the scar both day and night although it is recommended that it be applied for only four hours the first time with wearing time increasing by two hours each day. The purpose of this is to get the patient’s skin used to the compound.
The sheet should be cleaned twice daily and more often if the patient is very active or the atmosphere is warmer. Cleaning is accomplished with a mild soap and dried with a lint-free cloth. It’s also a good idea to clean the scar. Silicone gel sheets do not interfere with bathing since they can be removed and then reapplied.
One side of the sheet has an applied adhesive, so no other bandaging is necessary. It can be applied to any part of the body, even sensitive ones. It’s especially useful for healing old and new scars since it will conform to any body area.
How it works
First of all, because of its ease of use, it is usually more successful than other treatments simply because the patient is willing to use it. Many question how silicon gel sheets work and why they are so effective. What it does is seal off the scar area and provide hydration to it. The moisture that is locked into the skin around the scar reduces blood supply to the area. This reduction in blood supply in turn reduces the amount of collagen in the area, causing the scar area to become paler and to slowly approximate the natural color of the skin.
How effective is it?
Silicone gel sheets are widely used by hospitals, dermatologists, and surgeons and have been proven to be 90% effective. They work effectively on old scars as well as new ones. Even an itchy scar can be improved. The sheets are 12cm x 15cm, but they can be cut into pieces to fit the scar. Twenty-eight days seems to be the life of a piece of a silicone gel sheet and average treatment time is two to four months. Many patients find that their scars can be effectively treated with only one sheet.
What are the Silicone Gel Sheet Options?
Smith & Nephew is the leader in Silicone Gel Sheets, selling the very popular Cica Care brand. Cica Care Silicone Gel Sheeting sells for $44.50 for a 5 by 6 inch sterile sheet at Vitality Medical. Molnlycke also manufacturers a very poplular silicone dressing called the Mepitel Self Adherent Silicone Dressing. A 2 by 3 inch dressing costs $17.03 at Vitality Medical. NM Technologies manufactures custom silicone scar reduction sheets under the brand name RETOUCH. These silicone scar sheets come in various sizes, including a Tummy Tuck Scar Sheet and Breast Anchor Scar Sheet. A 1.4 by 2.4 inch sheet is sold for $10.90 each.
Vitality Medical offers discount and wholesale pricing to consumers, clinics and hospitals. For over 10 years, Vitality Medical has offered online discount medical supplies for the home or facility at reduced prices. They take medical supply orders online and over the telephone toll-free at 800-397-5899.
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