A Randomized Comparative Study Evaluating the Tolerability and Efficacy of Two Topical Therapies for the Treatment of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars

Summary

Keloids are thought to result from derailments in the typical wound healing process following cutaneous injury. Current treatment options for keloids include intralesional corticosteroids, silicone gel sheeting, compression, surgery and adjuvants to surgery, including radiation and cryotherapy. 0.5% hydrocortisone, silicone, vitamin E lotion (HSE) and onion extract gel (OE) are widely used over-the-counter medications for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars. However, their efficacy and safety have not been compared in a blinded, placebo-controlled, prospective fashion. This study is being undertaken to determine the efficacy and safety of HSE versus OE versus placebo (Cetearyl alcohol; CEA) in subjects with hypertrophic scars and keloids. This is an investigator-blinded study, which means that the doctor evaluating you will not know if you are receiving the study medication or not. Another doctor will be supplying you with the medication and discussing any problems that you may have with the medication. You will be assigned to one of the three treatment groups: HSE, OE, or CEA. The group will be assigned by chance and you will have two in three chances of receiving treatment with a study medication, HSE or OE. The no treatment group will receive CEA, a bland lotion, containing no active ingredients such as steroids, silicone, vitamin E, or onion extract.

Timeline

Start

2006-03

Primary completion

2008-02

Completion

2008-02

Publications

• Background Augusti KT. Therapeutic values of onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.). Indian J Exp Biol. 1996 Jul;34(7):634-40.
• Background Saulis AS, Mogford JH, Mustoe TA. Effect of Mederma on hypertrophic scarring in the rabbit ear model. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Jul;110(1):177-83; discussion 184-6. doi: 10.1097/00006534-200207000-00029.
• Background Musgrave MA, Umraw N, Fish JS, Gomez M, Cartotto RC. The effect of silicone gel sheets on perfusion of hypertrophic burn scars. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2002 May-Jun;23(3):208-14. doi: 10.1097/00004630-200205000-00010.
• Background Phillips TJ, Gerstein AD, Lordan V. A randomized controlled trial of hydrocolloid dressing in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids. Dermatol Surg. 1996 Sep;22(9):775-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.1996.tb00728.x.
• Background Eisen D. A pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of scarguard in the prevention of scars. Internet J Dermatol. 2004;5.
• Background Gilman TH. Silicone sheet for treatment and prevention of hypertrophic scar: a new proposal for the mechanism of efficacy. Wound Repair Regen. 2003 May-Jun;11(3):235-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-475x.2003.11313.x. No abstract available.
• Background Jackson BA, Shelton AJ. Pilot study evaluating topical onion extract as treatment for postsurgical scars. Dermatol Surg. 1999 Apr;25(4):267-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.1999.08240.x.
• Background Chung VQ, Kelley L, Marra D, Jiang SB. Onion extract gel versus petrolatum emollient on new surgical scars: prospective double-blinded study. Dermatol Surg. 2006 Feb;32(2):193-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2006.32045.x.

Drugs

Indications