Zinc Oxide Versus Petrolatum Following Skin Surgery: A Head-to-head, Prospective, Split-scar Study
Melissa Pugliano-Mauro
Summary
Patients undergoing routine surgery in the Department of Dermatology for any indication on non-scalp skin and closed in linear fashion with scar greater than or equal to 4.5cm in length will be invited to participate in this split scar, head to head study comparing zinc oxide and petrolatum. Patients will apply respective ointments to each half of scar daily for one month and maintain a log of these activities. They will be seen at 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operatively for photographic scar assessment and to complete the patient portion of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), a quantitative objective assessment of scar appearance. Trained observers (board-certified dermatologists) will score the observer portion of the scale. POSAS outcomes, post-operative infections, linear density of epidermal seal will be assessed at the 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operative periods and compared between the two groups. Participants will have parking validated for all visits and upon completion of all portions of the study will receive a standardized skin care gift bag containing samples for hypoallergenic skin care products (washes, moisturizers, etc.).
Description
Patients who have undergone dermatologic excision for any indication with or without Mohs micrographic surgical technique and surgically closed in linear fashion with scar length of greater than or equal to 4.5cm on any site but the scalp will be approached for enrollment in the study. Any closure in which one half of the linear scar appears grossly unequal to or worse than the other (due to any number of causes, such as suture technique, etc.) will be excluded from the study. Any patient whose surgical procedure was deemed as having high risk of post-surgical infection would also be excluded…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. ≥ 18 years of age 2. Linear closure, non-scalp site 3. ≥ 4.5 cm in length (final incision/closure length) 4. End to end symmetry (surgical site is not grossly asymmetric from end to end) 5. Grossly uninfected site Exclusion Criteria: 1. ≤ 18 years 2. Visibly asymmetric linear scar 3. Grossly infected surgical site 4. History of allergy to topical zinc oxide
Interventions
- DrugTopical zinc oxide vs. petrolatum post-surgical scars
Following linear closure on non-scalp skin with scar length \> 4.5 cm, incision site will be "split" and petrolatum applied to one half and zinc oxide ointment to the other half daily for one month following surgery.
Location
- UPMC Dermatology St. MargaretPittsburgh, PA, Pennsylvania