Mokos ZB, Jović A, Grgurević L, Dumić-Čule I, Kostović K, Čeović R, Marinović B, et al.
Frontiers in medicine. Date of publication 2017 Jun 20;volume 4():83.
1. Front Med (Lausanne). 2017 Jun 20;4:83. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2017.00083. eCollection
2017.
Current Therapeutic Approach to Hypertrophic Scars.
Mokos ZB(1), Jović A(1), Grgurević L(2), Dumić-Čule I(2), Kostović K(1), Čeović
R(1), Marinović B(1).
Author information:
(1)Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb,
School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
(2)Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb,
Zagreb, Croatia.
Abnormal scarring and its accompanying esthetic, functional, and psychological
sequelae still pose significant challe nges. To date, there is no satisfactory
prevention or treatment option for hypertrophic scars (HSs), which is mostly due
to not completely comprehending the mechanisms underlying their formation. That
is why the apprehension of regular and controlled physiological processes of scar
formation is of utmost importance when facing hypertrophic scarring, its
pathophysiology, prevention, and therapeutic approach. When treating HSs and
choosing the best treatment and prevention modality, physicians can choose from a
plethora of therapeutic options and many commercially available products, among
which currently there is no efficient option that can successfully overcome
impaired skin healing. This article reviews current therapeutic approach and
emerging therapeutic strategies for the management of HSs, which should be
individualized, based on an evaluation of the scar itself, patients'
expectations, and practical, evidence-based guidelines. Clinicians are encouraged
to combine various prevention and treatment modalities where combination therapy
that includes steroid injections, 5-fluorouracil, and pulsed-dye laser seems to
be the most effective. On the other hand, the current therapeutic options are
usually empirical and their results are unreliable and unpredictable. Therefore,
there is an unmet need for an effective, targeted therapy and prevention, which
would be based on an action or a modulation of a particular factor with clarified
mechanism of action that has a beneficial effect on wound healing. As the
extracellular matrix has a crucial role in cellular and extracellular events that
lead to pathological scarring, targeting its components mostly by regulating bone
morphogenetic proteins may throw up new therapeutic approach for reduction or
prevention of HSs with functionally and cosmetically acceptable outcome.
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2017.00083
PMCID: PMC5476971
PMID: 28676850
