![]() ![]() 1 On the spectrum of scarring, a surgical scar resulting in an unnoticeable fine line is clinically desired and is the result of undisturbed wound healing. 1 These scars may present as linear in nature, usually a surgical outcome or potentially widespread after a burn injury. Hypertrophic cutaneous scarring can be classified as abnormal and raised. 8 As a result, a prolonged inflammatory phase can stimulate an increase in fibroblast activity, thus increasing collagen production, and resulting in haphazard formation of scar tissue and hypertrophic scarring. 7 Collagen bonds laid down in the initial three weeks of scar healing are only at 20% of their final strength and, as such, once staples or sutures are removed, the tensile skin strength acting upon the wound bed can overcome the initial collagen bonds. 6 An imbalance in the metabolism within the extracellular matrix (ECM) and prolonged inflammatory phase is a clinical determinant of pathological hypertrophic scarring. Wound healing is a complex, multifactorial biochemical and cellular process involving the disruption of homeostasis, inflammation, prolifer-ation and remodelling. We propose taping to be comparable with current scar management techniques and postulate the mechanisms whereby these techniques may mitigate scarring. First, though, we discuss wound healing, the concept of mechanotransduction and the use of tapes applied at the time of wound closure versus tapes that may be applied after wound closure has been achieved. Given hypertrophic scarring can occur as a result of any insult to the cutaneous organ, hypertrophic scarring will be explored irrespective of scar causation. The aim of this comprehensive review was to evaluate the current clinical application of tapes as purposed specifically for the management of hypertrophic scarring, their time to commencement and impact on scar modulation. 5 As Young and colleagues 2 found, scarring as a result of elective and aesthetic surgical procedures can cause substantial concern for patients, even in body areas not easily visible to other people. 1 – 4 Hypertrophic scarring is a global health problem that can result in severe disfigurement and functionally disabling contracture formation for individuals, regardless of scar size. More research is required to determine the direct impact, comparison to other treatments available and patient viewpoint for this therapy.Ībnormal skin scarring affects an estimated 100 million people in high-income countries each year. Initial evidence of mixed levels, suggests some benefits of tapes for scar management and show preliminary efficacy for reduction of scar height, thickness and colour. This paper looks at the available evidence to support the use of taping to reduce scar features of height, thickness and colour. However, the effectiveness of taping has not been proven. The use of simple tapes, such as micropore tm, to help with wound closure are sometimes used as a therapy to reduce the tension on the skin’s surface when a wound is healing to minimise scar formation. Unfortunately, scar formation is a part of the body’s healing process, whereby there is a constant pull or tension under and along the skin’s surface. ![]() For some scars, the process of skin thickening continues for up to two years after an injury. These scars can be thick, red and raised on the skin, and can impact on the patient’s quality of life. Patients are often concerned about unsightly scars that form on their bodies after trauma, especially burn injuries. ![]()
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