At the 15th National Scientific Conference on Burns, Wound Healing, and Plastic, Aesthetic-Reconstructive Surgery 2025, Dr. Le Huu Phuoc, Burns and Plastic Surgery Department, Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, provided a scientific report on “Medical moisture retention cream in the management of itching, redness, and tightness after burns”. This presentation received a high interest among burn specialists, wound care professionals, and plastic surgeons.
Dr. Le Huu Phuoc, Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City indicated the difference in the mechanisms between silicone gel/sheets, unbalanced moisturizers and MMRC (well-balanced TEWL moisturizer).
According to Dr. Le Huu Phuoc, many burn patients continue to endure itching, dryness, and skin tightness after wound closure. These symptoms reflect the excessive transepidermal water loss (TEWL) due to the absence of sweat and sebaceous glands in scar tissue. Without appropriate management, scratching may lead to skin damage, increasing the risk of hypertrophic scarring, infection, and a delayed recovery.
Dr. Le Huu Phuoc, Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City clarified the impressive results of a published clinical research implemented by Department of Plastic and Recontructive Surgery-Burns Centre, Burn Centre, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium.
In this scientific report, MMRC Technology (ALHYDRAN) was mentioned as a promising and differentiated approach compared to conventional moisturizers. This is a medical cream which has been clinically proven on burn patients at University Hospitals, Burns Centers and Rehabilitation Centers throughout Europe for over 15 years. The special property of MMRC is a unique combination of 45% pure Aloe Vera gel that can absorb moisture into the skin, along with film-forming ingredients (Occlusives) to prevent water loss through the skin and emollients to fill the gap, all of which help balance trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) rapidly within 2 hours and have a long-lasting effect of at least 4 hours, thereby relieving the uncomfortable symptoms (such as itching, redness, and burning skin), reducing the risk of hypertrophic scars, and improving the quality of life for burn patients.
Dr. Le Huu Phuoc, Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City presented the main findings of the published clinical studies of MMRC.
A key point in the presentation is the differentiation between “medical moisture retention” and “conventional moisturizing”. The report emphasized that most common moisturizers are cosmetic products with no indication for treatment. Meanwhile, MMRC (ALHYDRAN) classified as a medical device class A is indicated for treating a disrupted skin barrier and has been shown to be effective through controlled clinical trials. Some studies cited in the scientific report showed that: MMRC (ALHYDRAN) reduces TEWL by up to 67%; reduces itching by up to 70% after 4 weeks as combined with massage and compression therapy; and shortens scar healing time by more than 52%.
Dr. Le Huu Phuoc, Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City demonstrated the conclusion and recommendation for managing post-burns hypertrophic scars.
This scientific report not only provides a new perspective on the management of itching and post-burn scarring, but also suggests criteria for selecting moisturizing products in clinical practice for burn scar treatment. Medical cream such as MMRC (ALHYDRAN) registered as a class-A medical device can be highly recommended in standard burn scar treatment protocols.
