Mederma is a topical product used to improve scar appearance. It is a gel based on an onion extract and produced by

Merz Pharma Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA is a privately-held pharmaceutical company based in Frankfurt, Germany with affiliates across Europe, as well as the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Asia Pacific and regional headquarters in Singapore and North Carolina ...

ceuticalsMEDERMA Skin Care for SCARS
/ref> of Frankfurt, Germany, although it is not sold in Germany. 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 trial 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 contrast, a 54-person trial in 2010, 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 Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus ''Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Allium fistulosum, Welsh onion and Allium chinense, Chinese onion. It is native to South A ...

found that they may act as an anti-inflammatory and bacteriostaticK. Augusti, Therapeutic values of onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.), Indian J Exp Biol 34 (1996), pp. 634–640. and in 2002, researchers found that Mederma improved

collagen Collagen () is the main structural protein in the extracellular matrix found in the body's various connective tissues. As the main component of connective tissue, it is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up from 25% to 35% of the whole ...

organization after injury in

rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit speci ...

Active ingredient

Allium cepa, the common onion, is the active content of Mederma. Onions contain a readily available and highly researched

bioflavonoid Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids; from the Latin word ''flavus'', meaning yellow, their color in nature) are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans. Chemically, flavonoids ...

with antihistamine and

antiproliferative Cytostasis (cyto – cell; stasis – stoppage) is the inhibition of cell growth and multiplication. Cytostatic refers to a cellular component or medicine that inhibits cell division. Cytostasis is an important prerequisite for structured multi ...

effects on both normal and malignant cells.

Full ingredients

Water (purified), PEG-4,

Aloe barbadensis ''Aloe vera'' () is a succulent plant species of the genus ''Aloe''. It is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions. An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in ...

leaf juice, Allium cepa (onion) bulb extract, xanthan gum, allantoin, methylparaben, sorbic acid, fragrance.

Similar product

Merz Pharmaceuticals also produces Contractubex for scars, which also contains onion extract in addition to other ingredients. Contractubex has been found effective in clinical trials for the prevention of hypertrophic scars and keloids in Chinese patients having laser tattoo removal.

References

{{Reflist, 30em Dermatologic drugs Ointments Scarring