A study has found that using an onion extract gel mixed with a silicone derivative significantly decreases pain, itching and pigmentation in hypertrophic scar treatment.

Hypertrophic scarring can be painful and itchy, causing a loss in mobility and a decrease in patients' quality of life. The efficacy of silicone gel on hypertrophic scarring is still under investigation, but has previously been shown effective in preventing excess scarring. Quercetin, an active bioflavinoid in the onion extract, is thought to have anti-histamine effects on the skin, reducing inflammation, and shows bacteriostatic qualities along with collagen down-regulatory properties.

Mixed in a semi-liquid gel form, the silicone derivative and onion extract was used on patients who had undergone median sternotomy incisions. In comparison to a control group, who had used a placebo gel, the silicone-onion gel showed significantly lower pain and itching scores at weeks two, four, eight and twelve.  Pigmentation was also improved in the patients treated, showing that the gel may have hydrating properties which restores barrier function to the stratum corneum, avoiding keratinocytes from stimulating excessive scar tissue.

To read the study, click here.

Image: Onion. Credit: DBduoPhotography on Flickr.