title: The Effectiveness of Topical Anti-scarring Agents and a Novel Combined Process on Cutaneous Scar Management.
abstract: Cutaneous scars (particularly hypertrophic and keloid scars), not only can cause adverse cosmetic problems, but also can be associated with emotional distress such as anxiety and depression. Comparing with other surgical treatments, patients who do not opt for or cannot opt for invasion therapies are more eligible for using the topical anti-scarring agents. In this mini-review, we have researched for and collected the data between October 2005 and October 2015, in PubMed and Web of Science, and identified those agents including silicone-based products, imiquimod, corticosteroids, 5-fluorouracil, bleomycin, mitomycin, and plant extracts such as onion extract, asiaticoside, aloe vera, vitamin E, and so on. Besides, we have listed these popular products in commercial market with their useful information. We have also described the combined process according to our clinical experience. However, to establish the more effective treatment among different types of topical agents or their combined process, large, well-designed head-to-head comparisons between individual and combined preparations in relevant patient populations are urgently needed.
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Qing-Qing
authors: QQ
authors: Fang
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Chun-Ye
authors: CY
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Min-Xia
authors: MX
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Chun-Lan
authors: CL
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Xiao-Wei
authors: XW
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Ji-Hua
authors: JH
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Li-Hong
authors: LH
authors: Wu
authors: Children's Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Li-Yun
authors: LY
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, #79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310003, China.
authors: Wei-Qiang
authors: WQ
authors: Tan
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000481:Allantoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009824:Ointments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D009824:Ointments; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; C053099:allantoin, heparin, onion extract drug combination; D000481:Allantoin; D006493:Heparin; C004446:asiaticoside
keywords: Cutaneous scar; anti-scarring agents; combined treatment; hypertrophic scar; keloid; scar management; topical therapy; wound repair