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Ghent University proves ALHYDRAN is effective

The respected scientific journal, Burns, published a research study on hydrating gels such as ALHYDRAN in November 2013. The research confirms the beneficial effects of ALHYDRAN1 on scars caused by burn wounds.

The research was conducted by Ghent University.

The benefits of ALHYDRAN scar cream on scars caused by burn wounds:

  • Reduced scar formation
  • Reduced itching
  • Scarred skin is more flexible
  • Skin is less stretched and therefore less painful
  • Reduced skin flaking
  • Long-lasting effect

Sealing, hydration and duration of the effect

The research focused on 3 aspects:

  1. Does ALHYDRAN seal the skin properly, preventing the immediate loss of introduced moisture?
  2. Does the cream hydrate well?
  3. What is the duration of the creams effects on scarred skin?

The researchers found that ALHYDRAN scored well on all three aspects . This is due to the ingredients, which ensure lengthy retention of introduced moisture where topically required

Aim of the research

The biggest issue for the research was that two scars are never exactly the same.  Factors like thickness, cause and condition will often vary among scars. Comparison of different subjects carrying different scars was therefore not easy. This also applied to the comparison of different scars on the same person.

The researchers therefore used a technique called ‘tape stripping’: they produced scars on the subjects by removing thin layers of healthy skin. As a result, each subject acquired a number of identical ‘scars’. Three situations could then be compared, per subject:

  1. Untreated scarred skin
  2. Scarred skin treated with ALHYDRAN
  3. Healthy skin

This approach allowed the effects of hydrating gels to be compared on the same subject and between a number of subjects, according to a standardised procedure. The study was very soundly constructed from a scientific point of view, resulting in reliable results.

The findings of the research can be summed up in 2 words: ALHYDRAN works.

Also read our blog about preventing scars after a burn wound

literature reference
1. Scar management by means of occlusion and hydration: A comparative study of silicones versus a hydrating gel-cream. Burns. 2013 Apr 29. pii: S0305-4179(13)00105-8. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2013.03.025; Hoeksema H,, Monstrey S, at al. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Burn Centre, Gent University Hospital, Belgium

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