The efficacy of a cream with Centella Asiatica and Pinus Sylvestris to treat hypertrophic scars and keloids – resume of a clinical observation

LISBET RODRÍGUEZ DE ARMAS¹ AND HANA ZELENKOVA²

¹ Hospital Universitario Comandante Manuel Fajardo
² DOST, Private Clinic of Dermatovenerology, Svidnik, Slovakia

KEY WORDS: Centella asiatica, hypertrophic scars, keloids, therapy, Pinus sylvestris

 SUMMARY:
Hypertrophic scars and keloids are especially problematic for patients because they can hinder movement, cause itching and pain and are a constant reminder of the trauma suffered. Although there are numerous types of treatment, none of them are completely effective. Traditional natural medicine has increased the therapeutic arsenal available against different conditions and Laboratorios Catalysis, S.A. from Spain has now developed a new cream whose main components are Centella asiatica and Pinus sylvestris (Cicatrix^®), which can be used to treat hypertrophic scars and keloids. In order to assess the effectiveness of the cream, a Phase III double-blind, placebo-controlled and randomized clinical trial was carried out on patients suffering from the aforementioned conditions who had gone to the dermatological service at the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Manuel Fajardo (Havana) between October 2009 and October 2010.

90 people who had satisfied the inclusion criteria were selected and women who were pregnant, breast feeding and children were excluded. The clinical response evaluation was based on a reduction in the height of the scars and the occurrence of adverse events. The initial variable composition of the groups was homogenous, except for age. The cream was to be applied three times a day, according to the prescribed regimen for the treatment group, and their adherence to this was much better than that of the control group with placebo in the first eight weeks. The adverse events seen were hypochromia, itching and folliculitis.

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