Pressure garments

Why pressure therapy?

Pressure therapy has two main aims:

• preventing the overproduction of scar tissue

• slowing down further development of the scar by applying pressure.

As a result, the scar settles sooner, the bright colour of the skin fades and the scar becomes flatter. An added benefit is that patients who wear pressure garments suffer less from itching.

After individual measurements have been taken, pressure garments are knitted on computer-controlled machines.

How it works

Scientific research into how pressure works has produced the following key findings:

• the number of connective tissue cells and inflammatory cells, the fluid and the building blocks needed to produce connective tissue all decrease (Kisher, 1975)

• because pressure stops the collagen fibres from coiling up, they align more parallel to the skin surface (Reid, 1987)

Most of these effects are due to a local lack of oxygen caused by reduced blood flow.

When to start?

In principle, pressure therapy can start as soon as all the small wounds have almost closed. On average, pressure garments are worn for 1.5 years (adults) to 2 years (children), 23 hours a day. They are best taken off only for washing, showering and bathing. Of course, it is mainly individual factors that determine how long the garments should be worn.

Pressure garments can be worn for scars on the hands, arms, trunk, legs and feet. In some areas, such as the neck and face, a pressure and silicone mask with a rigid shell is recommended.

Pressure garments can be worn in combination with silicone plasters, sheets or masks. The silicone promotes skin hydration and improves elasticity and colour.