Silicone gel sheets are a standard part of scar care in hospital scar clinics. They are simple to use, but they only help if you wear them properly and consistently. This guide walks you through when to start, how long to wear them each day and how to look after them.
Before you start
- Only use sheets on fully healed skin. The wound must be closed, with no scabs, stitches or open areas.
- If you had surgery, ask your surgeon or nurse when to start. Timing differs from person to person and procedure to procedure.
- Check with your care team first if you have a skin condition, diabetes, circulation problems or another long-term condition. One NHS scar service asks patients with these conditions to let the team know before they begin.
Step 1: Clean and dry the skin
Wash the area gently and dry it completely. Don't put creams, oils or gels under the sheet. If you have used a moisturizer, wash it off before you apply the sheet so it can stick properly.
Step 2: Cut the sheet to size
Cut the sheet so it covers the whole scar with a small margin of skin all the way round. K2K Silicone Scar Sheets are thin and flexible, so you can trim them to fit a long scar, a curve or a joint.
Step 3: Build up your wear time
Skin needs a few days to get used to silicone. The Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS scar service suggests building up like this:
- Day 1: up to 2 hours, then check the skin for irritation.
- Day 2: 4 hours.
- Day 3: 8 hours, for example overnight.
- Day 4 onward: increase gradually to at least 12 hours a day. Wearing a sheet for up to 24 hours a day is fine.
Take the sheet off at least once a day to check and clean your skin.
Step 4: Wash the sheet every day
- Wash it in lukewarm water with a mild soap, without added moisturizers.
- Rinse well.
- Let it air dry with the sticky side up, or pat it dry with a lint-free towel.
- Store it flat and covered, away from direct heat.
A clean sheet sticks better and lasts longer.
Step 5: Replace it when it stops sticking
Silicone sheets are reusable, but not forever. Replace a sheet when it loses its stickiness, becomes hard to clean, or starts to tear.
How long to keep going
Scar care is measured in months, not days. The same NHS service tells patients that results are usually seen after 2 to 4 months of consistent use, and that scars can take up to 18 months to mature. Results vary from person to person, so wear your sheets every day and judge progress over months.
Signs to stop or shorten wear time
- Redness, a rash or itching that doesn't settle
- Sore, broken or infected-looking skin
- White, wrinkled, soggy skin, a sign the sheet has stayed on too long without a break
If irritation appears, shorten your wear time until it settles, then build up again. If it keeps coming back, stop and ask your doctor or nurse for advice.
Quick routine
- Clean, dry skin, no creams.
- Sheet cut to cover the scar with a small margin.
- Build up over a few days to at least 12 hours a day.
- Wash and air dry the sheet daily.
- Keep going for months, and replace sheets when they stop sticking.
Making evenings easier is part of the routine too. Read our simple bedtime routine for adults.
