Scars are a natural part of healing—but for many people, hypertrophic or raised scars can become thick, itchy, uncomfortable, or slow to fade. For decades, medical-grade silicone has been considered the gold standard in non-invasive scar management.

But when choosing between silicone scar sheets and silicone gels, many people wonder: Is one better than the other?

The answer depends less on effectiveness—and more on how and where the scar is treated.

Why Silicone Is Used for Scar Management

Silicone is widely recognized as a first-line therapy for preventing and improving hypertrophic and keloid scars. Clinical research consistently shows that silicone can help:

• Reduce scar thickness

• Improve redness and discoloration

• Increase softness and pliability

• Decrease itching and discomfort

Systematic reviews and clinical trials confirm that silicone—whether applied as a sheet or a gel—improves scar appearance and symptoms when used consistently over time (O’Brien & Jones, 2006).

How Silicone Improves Scars 

Although silicone does not penetrate the skin, it works by optimizing the healing environment.

Research suggests silicone helps by:

• Increasing hydration of the stratum corneum

• Regulating fibroblast activity (cells responsible for collagen production)

• Modulating growth factors involved in abnormal scar formation

One study demonstrated that silicone gel sheets reduced levels of growth factors such as TGF-β1 and PDGF—key drivers of hypertrophic scarring (Choi et al., 2015).

Silicone Scar Sheets: Benefits and Limitations

Silicone scar sheets are soft, flexible dressings placed directly over the scar for extended wear—often 12 to 24 hours per day.

Benefits

• Strong clinical history with decades of use

• Excellent occlusion and hydration

• Particularly effective for larger, flatter areas

• Often preferred for post-surgical and burn scars

Multiple studies show silicone sheets significantly reduce scar thickness, redness, and symptoms when worn consistently (Gold, 1993).

Limitations

• May be difficult to wear on joints or curved areas

• Can be visible under clothing

• Requires daily cleaning and consistent placement

Silicone Gels: Benefits and Limitations

Silicone gels are applied topically and dry into a thin, invisible layer over the scar.

Benefits

• Ideal for the face, joints, or mobile areas

• Invisible and cosmetically discreet

• Easy to integrate into daily routines

• Suitable for irregularly shaped scars

Clinical studies show that topical silicone gels effectively reduce hypertrophic scar formation and improve scar texture and symptoms.

Limitations

• Requires consistent reapplication

• May provide slightly less occlusion than sheets

• Effectiveness depends heavily on user compliance

Is One More Effective Than the Other?

When directly compared, research shows no significant difference in overall effectiveness between silicone gels and silicone sheets when used properly.

A randomized controlled trial and systematic review found that both forms improved scar stiffness, thickness, and irregularity—with no meaningful superiority of one over the other (Pruksapong et al., 2020).

Similarly, a large systematic review confirmed that both silicone sheets and fluid silicone gels are considered first-line therapy, though study quality varies (De Decker et al., 2022).

Which Option Is Right for You?

Rather than asking which is “better,” experts recommend choosing based on scar location, lifestyle, and consistency of use:

• Choose silicone sheets if your scar is flat, easily covered, and you can wear the sheet for extended periods.

• Choose silicone gel if your scar is on the face, joints, or areas where sheets are impractical or visible.

• Consistency matters more than format—daily use over several months is key for both options.

Silicone as Part of a Long-Term Scar Care Routine

Silicone products work best when used:

• On closed, healed skin

• Early in the scar maturation process

• Consistently for 8–12 weeks or longer

Dermatology literature consistently supports silicone as a safe, non-invasive, and effective approach to scar management compared to more aggressive treatments (Berman et al., 2007).

Both silicone scar sheets and silicone gels are effective, evidence-based tools for managing hypertrophic and keloid scars. The “better” option is the one you can use comfortably and consistently.

When scar care fits into your daily life, results follow.

Works Cited

Berman, B., Perez, O., Konda, S., Kohut, B., Viera, M., Delgado, S., Zell, D., & Li, Q. (2007). A review of the biologic effects, clinical efficacy, and safety of silicone elastomer sheeting for hypertrophic and keloid scar treatment. Dermatologic Surgery, 33, 1291–1303. Link

Choi, J., Lee, E. H., Park, S., & Chang, H. (2015). Regulation of transforming growth factor β1 by silicone gel sheeting in early-stage scarring. Archives of Plastic Surgery, 42, 20–27.
Link

De Decker, I., Hoeksema, H., Verbelen, J., Vanlerberghe, E., De Coninck, P., Speeckaert, M., Blondeel, P., Monstrey, S., & Claes, K. (2022). The use of fluid silicone gels in the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Burns. Link

Gold, M. H. (1993). Topical silicone gel sheeting in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids. Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology, 19, 912–916. Link

O’Brien, L., & Jones, D. J. (2006). Silicone gel sheeting for preventing and treating hypertrophic and keloid scars. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Link

Pruksapong, C., Burusapat, C., & Hongkarnjanakul, N. (2020). Efficacy of silicone gel versus silicone gel sheet in hypertrophic scar prevention. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 8. Link