Hypertrophic Scar Formation and Wound Healing Modulation Fatty Acids as Modulators of Severe Scars

Scar tissue usually generates severe discomfort in the short and long term. Common symptoms include anesthetics sequelae, pruritus, joint malfunction, new wounds on the scar surface, and pain. There are several treatments for scars, like compression, topical or intralesional steroid infiltration, 5-fluorouracil, dermabrasion, and surgeries with new scar tissue. For adult patients, it is easier to choose the treatment. However, compression is commonly applied in children to prevent treatments that have adverse effects. This study reports the outcomes of 15 patients submitted to abdominoplasty, traumatic wounds and post-burn scar treatments, which showed significant changes after the continuous use of an ointment composed of petrolatum, cod liver oil, BHT, Chamomilla recutita (chamomile) oil, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil, and Prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil. As components of the stratum corneum, unsaturated fatty acids influence the cutaneous structural and immune status and permeability. They also interfere with the maturation and differentiation of the stratum corneum and inhibit the production of proinflammatory eicosanoids, reactive species (ROS and RNS), and cytokines, thereby influencing the inflammatory response and possibly wound healing. This article aims to share our experience with the regular use of an ointment in adult and pediatric patients for three months. The increase in proinflammatory cytokine production at wound sites, resulting in a noninvasive, therapeutical, and effective cutaneous wound healing and scarring modulation, may provide a physiopathological explanation for the fast improvement of scars.

Ablative fractional CO_(2)laser surgery improving sleep quality,pain and pruritus in adult hypertrophic scar patients:a prospective cohort study

Background:Poor sleep quality is associated with a decrease in quality of life in patients with major burn scars,combined with pruritus and pain.Few interventions have been reported to improve the sleep quality of patients with scars.In the current prospective cohort study,we investigated the efficacy of CO_(2)-ablative fractional laser(AFL)surgery vs conventional surgery in post-burn patients with hypertrophic scars with sleep quality as the primary study outcome.Methods:In total 68 consecutive patients undergoing scar surgical treatment were recruited,including a CO_(2)-AFL surgery cohort(n=35)and a conventional surgery cohort(n=33).A subgroup from the AFL cohort was selected.Sleep quality,pain and pruritus were evaluated.Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to reveal the effect of CO_(2)-AFL surgery.Results:The CO_(2)-AFL surgery cohort had significantly lower Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)global scores than the conventional surgery cohort after the last surgical treatment.In the subgroup of patients receiving hardware sleep monitoring,CO_(2)-AFL markedly increased deep sleep time,deep sleep efficiency and reduced initial sleep latency.Compared to the conventional surgery cohort,the CO_(2)-AFL cohort presented significantly lower pain and pruritus scores.Correlation analysis showed pain and pruritus were significantly associated with PSQI scores,and there were also significant correlations between pain and pruritus scores.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that surgery method was negatively linearly correlated with visual analog scale(VAS)pain score,brief pain inventory(BPI)total,VAS pruritus score,5-D itch scale total,four-item itch questionnaire(FIIQ)total and PSQI total.Conclusions:CO_(2)-AFL surgery significantly improved sleep quality and reduced pain and pruritus of hypertrophic scar patients.The alleviation of sleep disorder was associated with improvement of deep sleep quality including deep sleep time and deep sleep deficiency.Trial registration:The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(ChiCTR200035268)approved retrospectively registration on 5 Aug 2020.