Recovery Shopping Guides
Silicone Scar Sheets vs. Silicone Gel: Patches, Strips and Sticks
By DirectDermaCare · Updated November 03, 2026
Silicone scar products come in two main formats. Sheets, also sold as patches, strips and pre-cut shapes, are thin self-adhesive layers that you place over the scar, then wash and reuse. Gels and sticks are spread over the scar and reapplied during the day. Your surgeon or clinician can tell you whether silicone fits your plan, which format to use and when to begin.
Sheet, patch or strip: what the names mean
Manufacturers use “patch,” “strip” and “sheet” for different sizes and outlines of silicone sheeting. Biodermis, for example, sells Epi-Derm as patches, long strips and standard sheets. The sheet formats in stock at DirectDermaCare include:
- Epi-Derm Silicone Gel Patch: a 2 × 2.5 in (5 × 6 cm) patch, listed in packs of pairs. Biodermis says its patches can be cut to size.
- Scar FX 1" x 12" Self-Adhesive Silicone Sheeting and Scar FX 1.5" x 9" Self-Adhesive Silicone Sheeting: long strips with a self-adhesive side. The listings say the sheet can be cut to fit.
- Oleeva Anchor Shape Silicone Scar Sheet (10 × 4 in) and Oleeva Areola Shape Silicone Scar Sheet (2.5 in diameter): pre-cut outlines for the breast area, each sold individually.
Silicone gels and sticks
A silicone gel or stick is spread over the scar instead of being placed as a separate layer. Pro-Sil Silicone is a glide-on stick from Biodermis. Its directions say to clean and dry the scar site before each application, apply it over the entire scar, repeat several times daily and wipe it off with a clean cloth or tissue. The large 17 g stick on our listing is about 4 inches long and 3/4 inch wide.
Not every gel strip contains silicone
Some products sold as gel strips use a different material. Silipos describes Gel-Care Advanced as a 2 mm layer of self-adhesive mineral oil gel with a conforming backing, and says the line does not contain silicone. Gel-Care Advanced Scar Therapy Strips come two to a pack, measure 1.5 × 10 in, can be trimmed and are washable and reusable. If your clinician asked for silicone, check the material before ordering any gel product.
Sheets and gels compared
| What to compare | Silicone sheets, patches and strips | Silicone gels and sticks |
|---|---|---|
| How it goes on | Remove the backing and lay the sheet on washed skin without stretching it | Spread over the entire scar on clean, dry skin |
| Coverage | Cover the whole scar plus a margin: Rejûvaskin suggests 1/4 inch for Scar FX, Oleeva at least 1/2 inch | Applied over the entire scar |
| Staying in place | Self-adhesive; makers suggest tape or an elastic garment where skin flexes or tackiness fades | Biodermis says Pro-Sil dries quickly and can be reapplied during the day |
| Visibility and clothing | Oleeva designs its Scar Shapes to be worn under surgical garments or ordinary clothing | Biodermis suggests a stick or gel for exposed areas during the day |
| Reuse | Washed and reused until it loses tackiness: about 2–3 weeks for Epi-Derm, around 30–45 days for Scar FX, about 3–4 weeks for an Oleeva Fabric shape | Nothing to wash; each application is wiped off with a clean cloth or tissue |
What dermatology sources say
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) lists silicone gel, as a sheet or an ointment, among the options a dermatologist may recommend for a raised scar or keloid. Its scar page says studies show the gel sheets appear to work better than the ointment, and that a gel sheet is worn every day, often for months. The AAD also notes that silicone gel sheets and silicone gel can both be bought without a prescription.
A 2014 practical guideline on hypertrophic and keloid scars, from an international group of 24 scar-management experts, names silicone-based products, such as sheets and gels, as the first-line non-invasive option, and says its advice should be combined with clinical judgement for each patient. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, lists silicone gel or patches among the options a dermatologist may recommend for a keloid that bothers you.
Questions that help you choose
- What did your clinician specify? If you were given a product, size or format, match it. If not, ask whether a sheet or a gel suits your scar and when you can start.
- Will clothing cover the area? Biodermis suggests sheeting day and night when clothing covers the scar. For a scar on exposed skin, it suggests a stick or gel during the day and a sheet overnight.
- Does the scar cross a joint? Oleeva notes that adhesion can vary where joints flex, and suggests gentle surgical tape or an elastic garment. Biodermis mentions tape for areas such as a knee or ankle. We stock Epi-derm Epi-Tape for that purpose.
- How long and what shape is the scar? Measure it, add the margin your product's maker asks for, and compare the total with the strip lengths and shape sizes on each listing.
- How many pieces do you need? The Epi-Derm patch is listed in pairs, the Oleeva shapes are sold individually and Gel-Care comes two strips to a pack. Oleeva suggests a second sheet to wear while the first one dries.
Before you order
Our return policy gives you 60 days from delivery to request a return of unopened products. Opened or used products can be returned only if they arrived damaged or defective, so confirm the size, shape and quantity before opening a package. For application, wear time and washing, read our guide to using silicone scar sheets. If you are comparing breast-area outlines, our Scar FX anchor and areola circle comparison covers two more shapes.
Browse silicone scar sheets and sticks →
Sources: AAD, Scars: diagnosis and treatment; AAD, Keloid scars: self-care; MedlinePlus, Keloids; Meaume et al., Management of scars: updated practical guidelines and use of silicones (2014); Biodermis Epi-Derm range; Biodermis Epi-Derm patch; Biodermis scar care regimen; Biodermis Pro-Sil directions; Oleeva Care & Use; Oleeva FAQs; Oleeva Scar Shapes; Rejûvaskin sheet sizing; Rejûvaskin sheet life; Silipos Gel-Care Advanced. Product details are based on the linked DirectDermaCare listings. Reviewed October 27, 2026 for product-shopping information.