Zinc Oxide Versus Petrolatum Following Skin Surgery

Summary

Patients undergoing routine surgery in the Department of Dermatology for any indication on non-scalp skin and closed in linear fashion with scar greater than or equal to 4.5cm in length will be invited to participate in this split scar, head to head study comparing zinc oxide and petrolatum. Patients will apply respective ointments to each half of scar daily for one month and maintain a log of these activities. They will be seen at 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operatively for photographic scar assessment and to complete the patient portion of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), a quantitative objective assessment of scar appearance. Trained observers (board-certified dermatologists) will score the observer portion of the scale. POSAS outcomes, post-operative infections, linear density of epidermal seal will be assessed at the 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operative periods and compared between the two groups. Participants will have parking validated for all visits and upon completion of all portions of the study will receive a standardized skin care gift bag containing samples for hypoallergenic skin care products (washes, moisturizers, etc.).

Timeline

Start

2021-09-01

Primary completion

2026-09-30

Completion

2026-10-30

Publications

• Background Thompson CB, Wiemken TL, Brown TS. Effect of Postoperative Dressing on Excisions Performed on the Leg: A Comparison Between Zinc Oxide Compression Dressings Versus Standard Wound Care. Dermatol Surg. 2017 Nov;43(11):1379-1384. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001209.
• Results Kantor J. The SCAR (Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating) scale: development and validation of a new outcome measure for postoperative scar assessment. Br J Dermatol. 2016 Dec;175(6):1394-1396. doi: 10.1111/bjd.14812. Epub 2016 Oct 17. No abstract available.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.