Silicone Gel Sheets for Scar Care

Silicone gel sheets are flexible dressings placed on fully healed scars to support scar care.

A sheet sits directly over the scar and forms a protective silicone layer. It is designed for scar tissue, not for treating an open cut, a draining wound, or an active skin infection.

The material is soft, flexible and usually lightly adhesive. By limiting water loss from the surface, it helps keep scar tissue hydrated and may make a scar feel softer and less tight over time.

Some people notice less itch or discomfort while using silicone. A sheet can be cut to follow the outline of a scar, but it should lie smoothly without stretching the skin across a joint.

Clinicians may include silicone sheeting in a scar-care plan after surgery, injury or a burn once the skin surface has closed and healed. It is often considered for scars that are raised, firm, red, itchy, sensitive or restrictive.

Placement needs to suit the area. A moving, hairy or sharply curved site may need a different silicone format or an additional method of holding the sheet in place.

Silicone gel in a tube can be useful where a sheet is difficult to keep in place. Depending on the scar, a clinician may also recommend massage, pressure therapy, sun protection, injections or another procedure. The appropriate option depends on the scar’s age, location, symptoms and effect on movement.

Start only with guidance on how long to wear the sheet. A gradual build-up can help reveal irritation early. Wash both the scar area and the sheet as directed, dry them thoroughly, and store the sheet on its backing when it is not being worn.

Scar care is usually a routine followed over time, rather than a one-off application. Take a photo in consistent lighting if your clinician asks you to monitor changes in colour, height, texture or comfort.

Replace a sheet when it no longer adheres, is damaged, or cannot be cleaned properly. Stop using it if the surrounding skin becomes persistently red, itchy, painful or soggy. Seek prompt medical assessment for spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever or a wound that opens, as these need evaluation beyond scar care.