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Many lotions and potions have been promoted as improving the appearance of scars, with precious little scientific support. A recombinant, active, human form of the transforming growth factor TGFβ3 (avotermin) has been shown to improve surgical scars in a rat model. In this industry-funded series of three phase I/II studies, varying concentrations of TGFβ3 (0.25–500 ng/100 µL/cm of incision) were injected into the upper arm skin of 223 healthy volunteers immediately before and 24 hours after they underwent linear, full-thickness incisions.
Control sites were treated with placebo or with standard care. Wounds were closed with one subcuticular or two simple interrupted sutures and Steri-Strips or Tegaderm. All wounds received standard care, whi…