Abstract
Hypertrophic scars (HTSs) and keloids are a major health concern for aesthetic and
functional reasons. Despite a plethora of rapidly evolving treatment options and technical
advances, the management of pathologic scarring remains difficult. The development
of standardized treatment algorithms has been problematic for years due to the lack
of sound randomized controlled trials. Expert panels are more and more establishing
guidelines to provide an evidence-based framework on a national and international
level. This article aims to evaluate the current strategies and upcoming trends in
the therapy and prevention of unpleasant scars and keloids from a clinical perspective.
There is strong evidence to support a growing role of early combination treatments,
particularly the application of 5-fluoruracil adjunct to intralesional steroid injections.
Furthermore, the use of fractional ablative laser technologies such as the CO2 laser has recently yielded promising results with respect to aesthetic outcomes and
patient satisfaction at tolerable side effects.
Keywords
hypertrophic scar - keloid - aesthetic medicine - CO
2 laser - fractional laser
