title: Importance of Scar Prevention and Treatment-An Approach From Wound Care Principles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increased number of cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures has led to a greater demand to achieve aesthetically acceptable scars. Silicone gel (SG) dressings were evaluated in these cases following the principles of wound care and also minimizing abnormal scar formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A newly developed solution in wound care in the form of a SG has proven to be a highly effective treatment for a series of 4 clinically challenging cases presented in this article: postprocedure healing after a laser treatment, nonhealing scalp wounds, chronic relapsing xerotic eczematous cheilitis, and the treatment of scars caused by third degree burns. A standard SG was applied to improve the scar outcome of severe burns of a young child.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Silicone gels offer excellent clinical results in these 4 cases. In terms of wound care and scar management, they provide a user friendly, convenient application form and increase patient comfort and compliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To pursue these results, further studies need to be conducted but as of now, there is strong suggestive evidence that SGs indicate beneficial properties for wound care management and scar prevention.
authors.affiliation: *Medical and Scientific Director, Skin Doctors' Center Trieste, Trieste, Italy; †Department of Dermatology, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; ‡Department of Burn, State Hospital # 3, Nikolaev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Odendaal
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smirnyi
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D020034:Silicone Gels