Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Various treatment regimens have been used in scars. The literature offers little consensus about appropriate therapy.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) alone or combined with onion extract in keloidal and hypertrophic scars.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Fourteen patients were treated with intralesional TAC and onion extract gel, and 13 patients were treated with intralesional TAC alone. Findings were recorded and graded at each visit (weeks 0, 4, 12, and 20). The scores before treatment and at week 20 were compared.

RESULTS:

Twenty-seven patients [17 men (63%) and 10 women (37%) aged 15 to 73 (average age 28.1 +/- 11.7)] were enrolled in the study. At baseline, the difference in the two treatment groups was not statistically significant (p>.05). At week 20, there was statistically significant improvement in both treatment groups (p<.05). TAC with onion extract was more effective than TAC alone in terms of pain-sensitiveness, itching, and elevation but not in erythema and induration. Treatment was well tolerated, without any adverse effect.

CONCLUSION:

Treatment with intralesional TAC and onion extract and TAC alone were effective. Combined with onion extract gel, intralesional TAC appears to be superior to TAC alone in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.