More evidence for the role of topical silicon in wound healing

18/11/18 17:38

The role of silicon in wound healing and scar treatment is well established. The initial discovery that scar tissue more readily loses water than normal skin was made incidentally during research for eczema. Silicon sheeting was designed which was found to help improve scar tissue symptoms and appearance. Later, silicon gel was designed to provide the same benefits but in a much more user-friendly form.

Dr Gunson has used these products for many years for new surgical and traumatic wounds, superficial wounds, and scarring. Most silicon products are not licensed for open wounds, or application to broken skin. Swiss manufacturers, Stratpharma however offer a range of silicon gel products, including one licensed for use on broken skin and open wounds.

Further evidence for the benefits of topical silicon in open wounds has just been published in the Clinical and Experimental Dermatology Journal (2018 43:718-37). The authors presented three patients who had undergone skin tumour excision on the scalp and extremities where the decision was made to allow the wounds to heal on their own, without sutures (termed second intention healing). The first case involved a scalp where the bone and it's covering periosteum was exposed. Usual wound care was applied but at day 15, the wound healing was not progressing well with non-viable tissue and a persistence of uncovered periosteum. Stratamed (Stratpharma) gel was then applied regularly to the wound and within 3 days, healthy granulation tissue (new vascular healing tissue) appeared, and complete healing progressed quickly thereafter. Two other cases were reported when the same gel was applied from day one and total healing time was reduced from the time usually expected (around 7 weeks for scalp wounds with exposed periosteum). The authors did not disclose any industry involvement, sponsorship, or other conflict of interest.

More information regarding silicon gel can be found here.