Reduction of inflammatory response

Stratamed is applied to the affected area of the skin in a very thin layer and forms a flexible, protective sheet that is gas permeable but semi-occlusive. The layer weakly bonds to the injured skin and protects it from chemical and microbial invasion, but it does not penetrate into the epidermis or dermis [9]. Stratamed consists of inert silicone polymers and can be applied directly to open wounds and to areas of skin with weakened integrity. The polymers it contains have no measurable pH value, and therefore do not affect the protective acid mantle of the skin and do not react with the newly forming epithelial tissues. [1] This leads to a reduction in the inflammatory response, an effective healing of the wound and therefore enhances therapeutic results. [1]

Faster re-epithelialization of the wound bed

Stratamed’s protective and hydrophobic silicone film has a semi-occlusive effect and therefore improves the tissue hydration of the injured skin area. It does not adhere strongly to the newly formed granulating tissue, which allows a faster migration of keratinocytes across the wound bed and supports a more rapid re-epithielialisation and a very effective healing with less symptomatic responses (redness/discoloration, itching, discomfort, pain). The faster re-epithelialization dramatically decreases the incidence of abnormal scarring [2] and gives patients a faster recovery time.

Abnormal scar prevention

After the re-epithelialization of a wound, the stratum corneum is immature and still allows abnormally high levels of Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL). Dehydration is signaled to keratinocytes, which then start to produce cytokines, which in epidermal-dermal signaling activate dermal fibroblasts to synthesize and release collagen. Excessive collagen production leads to abnormal scarring. [8]

At this wound healing stage the Stratamed layer restores the barrier function of the stratum corneum, reduces TEWL and stops dehydration of the skin. Reduction of TEWL turns off stimulation of keratinocytes and the production of cytokines and thus normalizes the level of collagen production, resulting in a normal mature scar. [8]

Although research shows no silicone gel or fluid to penetrate the epidermis [9], silicones appear to have an influence on basic fibroblastic growth factors (bFGF). Results of clinical investigation suggest that silicone gel is responsible for a modulation of bFGF-levels and therefore prevents the formation of hypertrophic scar tissue, which contains histologically normal fibroblasts. Data supports the hypothesis that substances that favourably influence wound healing do so by correcting a deficiency or overabundance of the growth factors that orchestrate the tissue repair process [10].

1. Data on file. Stratpharma AG; Practice Dr. Sandhofer, Linz/Austria 2010
2. Gauglitz GG et al. Mol Med 2011;17(1–2):113–125
8. Mustoe TA. Aesth Plast Surg 2008; 32:82–92
9. Fulton JE. Dermatol Surg 1995; 21:947–951
10. Hanasono MM et al. Facial Plast Surg 2004; 6:88-93