Topical Treatments

Compare To Other Treatments

There are few studies on topical scar treatments, and most of these do not report any side effects. Based on the scant available evidence, the charts below show the chances of developing side effects from topical scar treatments.3,4

Certain/Likely Side Effects (% = Incidence)

None reported

Possible/Rare Side Effects

SHORT TERM Human synthetic EGF only: Acne flare-upup to 8.3%*
SHORT TERM Vitamin E: Contact dermatitis (irritation)incidence not known
SHORT TERM Vitamin E: Itching and rashincidence not known

Studies:   

One study has looked at the side effects of topical treatments for atrophic scars.

  • Study 1:

    • Authors: Stoddard et al.3
    • Total # of patients: 12
    • # of female patients: 11
    • # of male patients: 1
    • Age of patients: 18-62 Average: 32.5
    • Type of treatment: Topical synthetic EGF serum
    • Duration of treatment and follow-up: 12 weeks of treatments twice a day
    • Side effects: Acne flare-up: 8.3%

* All patients had Asian skin type.

Study 1: In a study published in 2017 in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Stoddard and colleagues treated 12 patients with atrophic (indented) acne scars. All patients were people of color and were instructed to apply topical serum containing synthetic EGF to their faces twice a day for 12 weeks. One patient experienced an acne flare-up and quit the study early. The remaining 11 patients completed the study and did not report any side effects.3

Systematic review: In a recent systematic review published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Tanaydin and colleagues looked at 6 studies that aimed to explain the role of vitamin E in scars treatment. In 3 studies authors reported some benefit from the treatment, while in the other 3, no significant improvement in scar appearance was found. In 2 studies authors reported side effects of vitamin E application, contact dermatitis (irritation), as well as itching and rash.4

References
  1. Morganroth P, Wilmot AC, and Miller C. Over-the-counter scar products for postsurgical patients: disparities between online advertised benefits and evidence regarding efficacy. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 61(6), e31-47 (2009).
  2. Levy LL, and Zeichner JA. Management of acne scarring, part II. A comparative review of non-laser-based, minimally invasive approaches. Am J Clin Dermatol. 13(5), 331-340 (2012).
  3. Stoddard MA, Herrmann J, Moy L, and Moy R. Improvement of Atrophic Acne Scars in Skin of Color Using Topical Synthetic Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Serum: A Pilot Study. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD. 16(4), 322 (2017).
  4. Tanaydin V, Conings J, Malyar M, van der Hulst R, van der Lei B. The Role of Topical Vitamin E in Scar Management: A Systematic Review. Aesthet Surg J. 36(8), 959-65 (2016).

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