My Experience with Silicone Gel Sheeting Treatment for Keloid Scars

I've had problems with keloid scarring for almost 10 years now and I've tried many of the treatments on the market for the keloid scars as well. I had cryosurgery and injections but because the cryosurgery and injections are both expensive, I decided to try a less invasive form of treatment, silicone gel sheeting. I will cover how the sheets are used and my experiences with the sheets.

Silicone sheets for scars (both keloid and hypertrophic) are just sheets that resemble band-aids that are worn on the keloid scar for a minimum of 12 hours a day for 12 weeks or more. I purchased a box from my local drugstore that contained the full 12 weeks supply. Thankfully, if you have relatively small keloid scars, the sheets can be cut to fit the scar. However, each sheet must cover the scar completely on both sides.

The silicone sheets are to be washed after every use and dried thoroughly as each sheet can be worn about three to four days before it loses its effectiveness. I began my treatment after a shower, as the area must be cleaned before use. I put the first sheet on and at first, it felt completely strange. I had expected my keloid scar to hurt more with the pressure but it did not.

After a day or two, I definitely noticed a change in the feeling of my scar. It didn't hurt as much, and it did not itch as much either. I could wear a shirt without it rubbing against my keloid scar and irritating it. Driving with my seat belt on wasn't such a chore either. I couldn't help but think maybe they were on to something with the silicone gel sheets. Maybe I wouldn't have to worry about injections again!

After several weeks of wearing the patch for 18-20 hours a day, I did not really notice a change in the size or shape of my keloid scar. For the first 10 or so minutes after I would remove the patch, it would look smaller and wouldn't feel as hard. However, my keloid scar would jump right back to its normal size within 30 minutes and I was left wondering what I was doing wrong.

I continued to use the silicone gel sheets hoping that I hadn't worn them long enough yet for a full effect to take place. However, with each passing day, my keloid scar was just the same, it didn't itch or hurt, and my clothing didn't irritate it anymore, but the size of the keloid never changed.

I stopped using the silicone sheets after the full 12 weeks that was suggested on the box. It became a nuisance wearing the silicone sheets and washing them after each day, only to be disappointed with the results. The only thing that really came from the silicone sheet treatment was less itching and less pain that many people experience with keloid scars.

If you are looking to reduce the size of your keloid scar, I would find a better way, such as injections or cryosurgery as I experienced success with those treatments. I however did not reduce the size of my keloid with the sheets. If you want to reduce irritation, itching and the pain that accompany keloid scars, I think silicone gel sheeting is the way to go. It's cheaper, less painful and all it requires is a trip to your local drugstore.