Scars Be Gone: A New Hope for Scar Reduction

Scars from burns, injuries, or surgery can be tough to treat. They are a result of unusual healing. This is where verapamil hydrochloride (VHCl) comes into play. It is usually used for heart issues. Now, it is being repurposed for a new use. It is being tested in a special gel to help with scars. VHCl has some interesting properties. It boosts the production of procollagenase. This helps to break down collagen, which is a key component of scars. It also affects the structure of cells, reducing the amount of fibrous tissue. This makes it a strong candidate for scar treatment. Before creating the gel, tests were done to ensure that the drug and other ingredients worked well together. The gel was made using a method called thin-film hydration. This involved mixing Span-40 and cholesterol in a specific ratio. The resulting niosomes were then tested for how well they could hold the drug, their size, and their shape. The best niosomes were then put into a gel. Tests were done to see how well the drug was released and how stable the gel was. An animal study was also conducted to see how well the gel worked. The results were promising. The gel showed good drug release over 48 hours and was stable for 60 days. In the animal study, the gel reduced the size of scars significantly over 28 days. The combination of VHCl and the gel showed improved results. It helped the drug to penetrate the skin better. This means that the treatment could be more effective and safer over the long term. The gel also had a good texture and pH, making it comfortable to use. However, it is important to note that this is still early research. More studies are needed to confirm these findings and to ensure that the treatment is safe and effective for humans. The use of animal models is also a limitation. Results in humans may vary. Nevertheless, this research offers a new hope for those struggling with hypertrophic scars.