Mederma
Encyclopedia
Mederma is a topical product used to improve scar
appearance. It is a gel
based on an onion
extract and produced by Merz Pharma
ceuticals of Frankfurt
, Germany
. Mederma's marketing claims it can make scars "softer, smoother, and less noticeable". Generic versions are sold under the name Cepalin.
found no statistically significant change in hypertrophic scar appearance from products of this type compared to the standard petrolatum emollient, while a 1999 pilot trial found an onion extract gel less effective than the petrolatum. In 2010 a 54-person trial funded by Merz found that an onion extract cream improved the appearance of stretch marks.
Basic research
and animal testing
suggest the gel could be effective. A 1996 study into the therapeutic values of onion
and garlic
found that they may act as an anti-inflammatory
and bacteriostatic and in 2002, researchers found that Mederma improved collagen
organization after injury in rabbit
s.
and antiproliferative effects on both normal and malignant
cells.
, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Allium cepa (onion) bulb extract, xanthan gum
, allantoin
, methylparaben
, sorbic acid
, fragrance.
Scar
Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. With the exception of very minor lesions, every wound results in...
appearance. It is a gel
Gel
A gel is a solid, jelly-like material that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady-state...
based on an onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
extract and produced by Merz Pharma
Merz Pharma
Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA is an international healthcare company specializing in the research, development and marketing of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric diseases...
ceuticals of Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Mederma's marketing claims it can make scars "softer, smoother, and less noticeable". Generic versions are sold under the name Cepalin.
Effectiveness
One 2006 clinical trialClinical trial
Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
found no statistically significant change in hypertrophic scar appearance from products of this type compared to the standard petrolatum emollient, while a 1999 pilot trial found an onion extract gel less effective than the petrolatum. In 2010 a 54-person trial funded by Merz found that an onion extract cream improved the appearance of stretch marks.
Basic research
Basic Research
Basic Research is an herbal supplement and cosmetics manufacturer based in Salt Lake City, Utah that distributes products through a large number of subsidiaries. In addition, their products are sold domestically and internationally through a number of high-end retailers. Dennis Gay is the...
and animal testing
Animal testing
Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million...
suggest the gel could be effective. A 1996 study into the therapeutic values of onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
and garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
found that they may act as an anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs make up about half of analgesics, remedying pain by reducing inflammation as opposed to opioids, which affect the central nervous system....
and bacteriostatic and in 2002, researchers found that Mederma improved collagen
Collagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
organization after injury in rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s.
Active ingredient
Allium cepa, the common onion, is the active content of Mederma . Onions contain a readily available and highly researched bioflavonoid with antihistamineAntihistamine
An H1 antagonist is a histamine antagonist of the H1 receptor that serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions...
and antiproliferative effects on both normal and malignant
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
cells.
Full ingredients
Water (purified), PEG-4Polyethylene glycol
Polyethylene glycol is a polyether compound with many applications from industrial manufacturing to medicine. It has also been known as polyethylene oxide or polyoxyethylene , depending on its molecular weight, and under the tradename Carbowax.-Available forms:PEG, PEO, or POE refers to an...
, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Allium cepa (onion) bulb extract, xanthan gum
Xanthan gum
Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide, derived from the bacterial coat of Xanthomonas campestris, used as a food additive and rheology modifier, commonly used as a food thickening agent and a stabilizer...
, allantoin
Allantoin
Allantoin is a chemical compound with formula C4H6N4O3. It is also called 5-ureidohydantoin or glyoxyldiureide. It is a diureide of glyoxylic acid....
, methylparaben
Methylparaben
Methylparaben, also methyl paraben, one of the parabens, is a preservative with the chemical formula CH3. It is the methyl ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid.-Occurrence:...
, sorbic acid
Sorbic acid
Sorbic acid, or 2,4-hexadienoic acid, is a natural organic compound used as a food preservative. It has the chemical formula C6H8O2. It is a colourless solid that is slightly soluble in water and sublimes readily...
, fragrance.