Silicone Sheets for Keloid Scars

Last updated: September 22, 2026

Silicone sheets for keloid scars are adhesive patches that stick gently to skin, locking in moisture to soften, flatten, and reduce discoloration of raised scars. Their effectiveness was first discovered by clinicians in Australia in the early 1980s, originally in the treatment of burn survivors.

I took this after picture next to the window, so this is what it looks like in direct natural sunlight.

I took this after picture under an overhead light in the bedroom, so this is what it looks like under a ceiling fan light.

This after picture is taken in the mirror under ceiling lighting.

The silicone layer is the main body of the sheet. It’s soft, breathable, and inert, meaning it doesn’t react with your skin or absorb into it. It works purely by physical contact, creating a sealed environment that locks in your skin’s natural moisture.

The adhesive layer is what keeps the sheet in place. In high quality sheets, this is also silicone-based, gentle enough to peel off without bothering the skin, and designed for repeated use.

Notice the thickness of the silicone sheets above.

Not all silicone sheets are created equal, and with keloids, that difference really matters.

Keloid scars are thicker and more aggressive than normal scars. Unlike other scar types, they keep growing if left untreated. The thin silicone tapes and cheaper sheets you find in drugstores or on Amazon aren’t designed for that. They’re fine for minor blemishes, not for keloids.

Adhesive matters just as much as the silicone itself. Some sheets have no grip at all; others start strong but lose their stickiness within days. Either way, if the sheet isn’t staying flush against your scar, it’s not working, regardless of how good the silicone is. A sheet that needs constant replacing just costs you more money and wastes your time.

The optimal thickness for a silicone sheet in my experience is between 1 mm and 2 mm.

Even though silicone sheets have an adhesive layer, securing them with a medical tape is required, especially for high-movement areas or extended wear. After trying numerous options, I found Hypafix tape to be the most effective. It keeps the sheet firmly in place without irritating the skin.

Silicone Sheets Are Only One Part Of Keloid Treatment

Remember, silicone sheets are only one part of a three-part strategy for significantly reducing keloid scars.

In my experience, the most effective long-term strategy for substantially reducing keloid scars is a combination of three strategies:

1. Kenalog-40 injections
2. Daily moisturizing
3. Consistent use of medical-grade silicone sheeting secured with Hypafix tape.

Daily Moisturizer

Moisturizing your keloid every day is a simple habit that can make a difference. In my own experience, excessively dry skin during my acne years contributed to me developing keloids.

Regular moisturizing helps keep keloid tissue hydrated, which can gradually make the scar softer and more flexible over time.

Research has shown that keloid tissue has a weakened skin barrier, causing it to lose moisture more quickly than healthy skin. This dehydration can trigger skin cells (keratinocytes) to release signals that promote excess collagen production, contributing to the continued growth and activity of the scar.

Using a thick, long-lasting moisturizer helps restore the skin’s protective barrier by reducing water loss and keeping the scar hydrated for longer periods. Over time, this may help reduce some of the biological signals associated with ongoing collagen production. Many people also notice that a well-moisturized keloid becomes less itchy, more pliable, and appears less “active.”

Personally, I used Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Lotion, but the brand is less important than choosing a moisturizer that is thick, long-lasting, and one you’ll use consistently.

Kenalog Steroid Injections For Keloid Scars

If you have keloid scars on your chest, back, or shoulders, this is especially relevant to you. If you’re going to invest the time, money, and effort to see a dermatologist every four to five weeks for steroid injections, you have to be getting the right concentration of steroid injections. 

A common issue with keloid treatment is that dermatologists often inject the keloid scars with a steroid concentration that is too low to have an impact. Whether this is out of caution or simply a lack of experience treating keloids, I can’t say. But dermatologists will often start and continue with Kenalog at a concentration of 10 mg/mL if you don’t request a higher concentration. Keloid scars are not going to be flattened with a concentration of just 10 mg/mL.

Based on my experience, if your keloid is located anywhere on your body other than your face, opt for undiluted Kenalog 40 mg/mL. No saline or lidocaine. This simply means asking your doctor not to mix the Kenalog with anything else. In other words, the Kenalog would be injected undiluted, directly from the vial into the keloid scar. 

A dermatologist may push back on the 40 mg/mL concentration and caution that atrophy or skin thinning is a possibility with Kenalog 40. Thank them for their caution, but insist on the 40 mg/mL. Not only is skin thinning unlikely, but even if it does occur, it still is a FAR better outcome for the patient than the keloid itself. Go back every four to five weeks for treatment until it’s flat.

The number in the product name like Kenalog-10 or Kenalog-40 indicates the concentration of triamcinolone acetonide in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL). A higher number means a more concentrated steroid. For instance, Kenalog-10 contains 10 mg/mL, whereas Kenalog-40 contains 40 mg/mL, making Kenalog-10 one-quarter the concentration of Kenalog-40.

For further information about using triamcinolone acetonide (steroid injections for keloids), you can check out this article:

Kenalog Steroid Injections for Keloid Scars

Achieving significant improvement, defined as 80% to 100% flattening, requires patience and consistency. Keloids rarely respond after just a few treatments, so it’s important to commit to a long-term treatment plan.

The number of treatments depends on the size and thickness of the keloid:

• Small and thin keloids may flatten after fewer than 5 to 6 injections, which often corresponds to about six months of treatment or less.
• Larger or thicker keloids can require 8 to 12 injections or more, meaning treatment may continue for 9 to 12 months or longer.

Keep in mind that even after your keloid scar is completely flattened, you may still need to return periodically for a maintenance injection if the keloid “reactivates” or begins showing signs of growth again.

Your Daily Routine

1. Right after your shower, moisturize your keloid scars with lotion. Let the lotion dry for a few minutes.
2. Using scissors, cut a piece of silicone sheeting to match the size of your keloid scar. Avoid wasting silicone sheeting by cutting only what you need. Apply the silicone sheet directly to the scar.
3. Cut an appropriately sized piece of Hypafix tape and apply it over the silicone sheet to secure it in place.

Amazon Hypafix Tape

4. Put on your clothes gently so you don’t inadvertently remove the tape or silicone sheet.

5. Wear the silicone sheet until you shower the next day (so effectively 20 to 24 hours each day) or at minimum overnight for 10 hours. Repeat daily. The silicone sheet you cut out can be used for three to four weeks at a time before it loses its effectiveness. If it gets greasy or dirty, run it under water and then dry it with your hands. Do not wash it daily, though.

You won’t be perfectly disciplined about wearing the silicone sheeting every day, and that’s okay. Wear it as often and as long as you can. I wore mine off and on for a long time. Whatever your consistency with the sheeting, make sure that at a bare minimum, every time you exit the shower, you apply a generous amount of thick lotion to the keloid scar. It needs to be a part of your daily routine.