The safety, efficacy, and tolerability of a novel silicone gel dressing following dermatological surgery.

Silicone gel has for many years had a primary role in the treatment and prevention of abnormal scars, in the form of hypertrophic scars and keloids after epithelialization. The authors report preliminary findings on the use of a new, medical-grade, film-forming silicone gel dressing approved for use on open wounds and injured skin as monotherapy and in combination with other treatments prior to re-epithelialization. An observational study involving 105 patients examined the silicone gel's effectiveness in promoting accelerated epithelialization, reducing the inflammatory response and in the prevention of scarring. The study was conducted on a range of dermatological surgical interventions. The authors' observations confirmed silicone's role in promoting accelerated wound healing, scar prevention, and the utility of this new film-forming silicone dressing when used in combination with various other treatment modalities.