Improvement in scar appearance with the usage of silicone gel containing vitamin C for pediatric Asian patients

Abstract

Background Silicone gel has been introduced as a preventive measure for scarring, yet there is limited objective evidence supporting its effectiveness in the healing of pediat ric traumatic scars. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of silicone gel enriched with vitamin C on facial scars in Asian pediatric patients.

Methods Pediatric patients aged 3 months to 12 years who underwent debridement and primary repair for simple facial lacerations were included in this study. A topical sili cone gel mixture containing vitamin C was applied from the time of stitch removal until 6 months post-operation. Scars were evaluated at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-month post-ap plication using a simplified version of the Vancouver Scar Scale, which assessed vascu larity, pigmentation, and height. Scar color and pigmentation were quantified using a spectrophotometer, with comparisons to the symmetrical area on the opposite side of the scar. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Student t-test and repeated-mea sures analysis of variance, with post hoc testing for pairwise comparisons.

Results Of the participants, 33 were men, and 19 were women. By 6 months, there was a significant improvement in the scar score on the Vancouver Scar Scale across all pa rameters. The erythema index showed a statistically significant decrease at each time line (P<0.001). Similarly, the melanin index demonstrated a significant difference be tween the baseline and 6 months (P<0.001).

Conclusions The topical application of silicone gel containing vitamin C significantly im proved the appearance of fine surgical scars on the face in Asian pediatric patients.