The local treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids with topical retinoic acid.

In a clinical trial twenty-eight intractable cases with scars were treated with daily applications of a 0.05% solution of retinoic acid. The results were evaluated objectively and subjectively. Slight to marked reduction of the size of these scars and decrease of such complaints as itching were noted in the majority of the cases. A favourable result was obtained according to the patients in 79%, and according to the opinion of the medical examiner in 77% of the patients.