Silicone
Advanced-formula silicone gel for preventing post-operative scars
Open-label prospective trial · 36 patients with recent post-surgical scars
An advanced-formula topical silicone gel applied twice daily for three months improved scar pigmentation, vascularity, pliability and height. The trial had no control group, and the authors describe the findings as preliminary, noting that larger controlled studies are warranted.
Medhi B, Sewal RK, Kaman L, Kadhe G, Mane A. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2013;3(2):157–167. PMID 24254957.
Silicone
Silicone scar gel for early intervention in scar management
Single-arm observational study · 15 subjects with a linear or hypertrophic scar, followed 12 weeks
A 100% silicone scar gel applied twice daily reduced Vancouver Scar Scale and Observer Scar Assessment Scale scores over twelve weeks, with no adverse events reported. There was no comparison group, so the study describes change over time rather than an effect measured against an alternative.
Goldberg DJ. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2016;9(12):13–20. PMID 28210394.
Vitamin C
Silicone gel with vitamin C on fine surgical facial scars
Comparative case series · 80 patients with fine facial surgical scars, treated from suture removal to six months
A topical silicone gel containing vitamin C, applied from stitch removal to six months after surgery, significantly reduced scar elevation, erythema and melanin index compared with an untreated group. This is the closest published analogue to a silicone-plus-vitamin-C approach. It is a comparative case series, not a randomized trial, and the participants were Asian patients with facial scars.
Yun IS, Yoo H-S, Kim YO, Rah DK. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2013;37:1176–1181. PMID 24091488.
Silicone
Topical silicone gel versus silicone gel sheet for post-surgical scars
Prospective randomized comparison · 30 patients recently out of surgery
Patients were randomly assigned to a silicone gel sheet or a topical silicone gel. Vancouver Scar Scale scores showed no significant difference in efficacy between the two, and patients found the topical gel more convenient to use.
Kim SM, Choi JS, Lee JH, Kim YJ, Jun YJ. J Korean Med Sci 2014;29(Suppl 3):S249–253. PMID 25473216.
Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid and collagen synthesis in an animal wound model
Animal model · excision wounds in irradiated mice
Ascorbic acid increased collagen deposition, fibroblast and vascular density, and accelerated wound contraction. This is mechanistic, animal-model evidence for vitamin C's role in collagen formation — not a clinical scar outcome, and it studied ascorbic acid rather than the stable derivative used in Scarless.
Jagetia GC, Rajanikant GK, Mallikarjun Rao KVN. Burns 2007;33(4):484–494. PMID 17223272.
Squalane
Biological importance and applications of squalene and squalane
Narrative review · no patient population
A review chapter documenting the antioxidant, hydrating and emollient properties of squalene and squalane, and their use in topical formulations. It describes ingredient properties; it does not measure a scar outcome.
Kim S-K, Karadeniz F. Adv Food Nutr Res 2012;65:223–233. PMID 22361190.