Topical Timolol May Improve Overall Scar Cosmesis in Acute Surgical Wounds
Acute wounds created by dermatologists following the removal of nonmelanoma skin cancers are closed either by primary or secondary intention, and the best cosmetic outcome is preferentially desired. One parameter that determines the overall cosmesis of the healed wound is its vascularity. Vascular tone results from a complex interplay of a variety of chemokines in the body and their interaction with receptors located on endothelial cell surfaces. In this study, our aim was to determine if topical timolol could improve the overall cosmesis of acute surgical wounds. We determined that patients who treated their acute surgical wounds with topical timolol had improved cosmesis compared to control.
Resident Pearl
- Dermatologists create acute surgical wounds on a daily basis. We should strive for excellent patient outcomes as well as the most desirable cosmetic result. This research article points to a possible new application of a longstanding medication to improve the cosmetic outcome in acute surgical wounds.
Comment
Dermatologists create acute wounds in patients on a daily basis. Ensuring that patients achieve the most desirable cosmetic outcome is a primary goal for dermatologists and an important component of patient satisfaction. A number of studies have examined patient satisfaction following MMS.3,4 Patient satisfaction is an especially important outcome measure in dermatology, as dermatologic diseases affect cosmetic appearance and are related to quality of life.3,4
Timolol is a nonselective β-adrenergic receptor antagonist that is used in dermatology to treat IHs. In this preliminary study, the authors sought to determine if topical timolol applied to acute wounds following surgical removal of nonmelanoma skin cancers could improve the overall cosmetic outcome of acute surgical scars. The results showed that compared to control, topical timolol resulted in a more cosmetically favorable scar. The results are preliminary, and it would be of future interest to further study the effects of topical timolol on acute surgical wounds from a wound-healing standpoint as well as to further test its effects on the cosmesis of these wounds.
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