Sense and nonsense of scar creams and gels.

The wish to prevent or improve scars, whether they are of surgical or traumatic origin, has led to the development of scar creams and gels that are said to influence the aesthetic appearance of a scar. In this article the literature on results of the topical application of various scar creams and gels is reviewed. It is concluded that no single modality has been proven to manage hypertrophic scarring except maybe silicone and BAPN. Further research into the physiology and pharmacophysiology of scar tissue is needed. With respect to scars, it still applies that even "plastic surgeons can't erase without a trace."