THE COMPARISON OF MONOTHERAPIES OF KELOID SCARS BY LASER, SILICONE GEL, 5-FLUOROURACIL AND CRYOTHERAPY TREATMENTS  - A LITERATURE REVIEW

Anita Zięba; Michał Domin; Monika Kowalska; Katarzyna Ścibisz; Justyna Całka; Dominika Zdobylak; Karolina  Ollik; Kamil  Harenza; Mateusz Taranowicz; Olga Kowalczyk

doi:10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4914

Authors

Anita Zięba 1st Military Clinical Hospital with Outpatient Clinic, SPZOZ, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9075-6555
Michał Domin Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Voivodeship Specialist Hospital, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9081-8485
Monika Kowalska 4th Military Clinical Hospital with Outpatient Clinic, SPZOZ, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1930-6460
Katarzyna Ścibisz 1st Military Clinical Hospital with Outpatient Clinic, SPZOZ, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0491-8783
Justyna Całka 107th Military Clinical Hospital with Outpatient Clinic, SPZOZ, Walcz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9378-6920
Dominika Zdobylak 4th Military Clinical Hospital with Outpatient Clinic, SPZOZ, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5702-7136
Karolina Ollik 10th Military Clinical Hospital with Outpatient Clinic, SPZOZ, Bydgoszcz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9577-9648
Kamil Harenza Mikołaj Pirogow Provincial Specialist Hospital, Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6200-4672
Mateusz Taranowicz 118th Military Hospital with Outpatient Clinic, SPZOZ, Elk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2233-055X
Olga Kowalczyk Norbert Barlicki Memorial Teaching Hospital No. 1 of the Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4606-7736

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4914

Keywords:

Keloid Scars, Laser Treatment, Silicone Gel, 5-Fluorouracil, Cryotherapy, Monotherapy

Abstract

Keloid scars are a common problem of abnormal wound healing. There are plenty of treatment options. There is why, in this review 4 of them (laser, silicone gel, 5-fluorouracil and cryotherapy) were examined separately as monotherapies and compared.

The aim of the review was to find out whether there could be found an effective monotherapy of keloids and which one of the examined ones could be the most promising one.

In the review there were 28 studies analyzed focused on laser, silicone gel, 5-fluorouracil and intralesional cryotherapy as monotherapies of keloids. They included some randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, observational studies and in vitro investigations. All the literature based on combined therapies was excluded. The effectiveness, safety and rate of recurrence was assessed.

All of the therapies showed some improvements in the appearance of scars and the symptoms. However, the quality of evidence was low due to limitations of the studies and lack of long-term outcomes. Intralesional cryotherapy seems to bring the most promising results but equally the highest risk of side effects. The other 3 methods had very similar results.

None of the proposed treatments can be defined as an effective monotherapy of keloid scars. There is a high need of conducting more research focused on standardized procedures with big randomized groups of patients and the follow-ups to examine long-term recurrence rate. It could be also suggested that monotherapy may not be the best way of treatment and the further research should be focused on combined therapies.

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