Silicone Gel

[CarolineFW]

Hello - my son had a nasty fall the other day and split open his head - near his eyebrow.. he now has stitches but was advised by a friend that as soon as it is healed to start putting some form of scarring cream on. Please can you suggest what the best type of cream would be or if there is anything else I can do to prevent scarring? Thanks

[Dr Derrick Phillips]

Dear Caroline,

Many thanks for your question. Scars can take more than 12 months to settle and keeping them occluded and hydrated during the remodelling period can lead to favourable wound healing. There is good clinical evidence for the use of silicone gels and sheets for this purpose. They can be applied once the stitches have been removed or the wound has sealed. If you have any concerns regarding the appearance of scars or wound healing, please arrange to see a plastic surgeon or dermatologist.