Scarring is the body’s way of healing and replacing injured skin. There are many types of scars, including: Fine-line scars It’s best to talk with a doctor about the best way to heal your scar. This is because there are so many factors at play, including the type of scar, whether it’s new or old, and your age. Keloids: Raised, textured scars that can spread past the original wound area. You might say that keloids are scars that heal a little too well in response to the injury.

Lin Y-S, et al. (2018). Does the form of dressings matter? A comparison of the efficacy in the management of postoperative scars between silicone sheets and silicone gel: A randomized controlled trial. Flat scars and areas of discolouration from a superficial wound (such as a cut or a nasty spot) are usually temporary. Raised scars such as keloids and hypertrophic scars result from an overly aggressive healing process, and they’re often permanent. Larger ones can be removed by surgery or steroid injections, but smaller keloids and hypertrophic scars can be treated at home using products containing scar-shrinking ingredients such as silicone and allantoin. What active ingredients should I look for in the best scar creams?

Bio-Oil Multiuse Skincare Oil: This oil was super hydrating, but also kind of messy. And while it helped clear up our mild scabbing, it didn’t do much in terms of changing the appearance of our scars. Depending on the type of product you choose, you may need to look out for allergic reactions. Open skin is more sensitive to allergens, says Melanie Palm, MD, a dermatologist at Art of Skin MD. She adds that while silicone-based products are unlikely to cause a reaction, some OTC treatments contain other ingredients that increase the likelihood of a reaction. DESCRIPTION: Scarex is a silicone gel specially formulated for the management of hypertrophic scars due to traumatic injury, surgery or burns of the skin. It stimulates the fast recovery of the skin and reduces the redness after laser procedures. Scarex flattens and smooths the scar while maintaining elasticity and hydration of the damaged area.

Atrophic scars don’t respond well to at-home treatments. But medical treatments such as chemical peels and soft tissue fillers can be highly effective for significantly reducing their appearance. Keloid scars Fine Line Scars: The likeliest to heal on their own, these are the “cleanest healing” scars and are most common on small and/or straight wounds. It is raised at first but will fade and heal gradually. Superficial wounds like cuts and abrasions cause fine-line scars. This type of scar fades significantly over time, becoming nearly invisible without treatment.Adalyser sets this cookie to determine whether there is an active session and which conversions have taken place in this session to prevent duplicates, stores a list of events in this session. Scars are a natural part of the healing process after injury. A loss or change in your collagen structure causes scarring, which is why you can get scars without even breaking the skin (stretch marks and injury bumps, for example). Most scars, though, form after the skin has suffered an open wound. Moisturisers and emollients can really help to prevent a wound from scarring, but you must of course let the wound heal first, and this can take several weeks after surgery or serious injury. Cho YS, et al. (2014). The effect of burn rehabilitation massage therapy on hypertrophic scar after burn: A randomized controlled trial.

Avéne Cicalfate+ Scar Gel: This gel was easy to use and apply, leaving little to no scent or residue behind, but it wasn’t overly moisturizing and didn’t really seem to effect any measurable change. Studies have found that some of them, like silicone and green tea, have benefits. Others, like onion skin and aloe vera, are unproven for treating scar tissue but may have value for soothing skin. A 2020 review of six studies found that the use of topically applied silicone was beneficial for preventing post-operative scar formation. Researchers also found that topically applied silicone sheets or gel significantly reduced scar pigmentation and height. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) CookieYes sets this cookie to record the default button state of the corresponding category and the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. We tested the RejûvaSil Silicone Scar Gel on two flat scars—one about two years old and one only three months old. The goal in treating both of these scars was to lighten their pigmentation since neither was raised at the start of our testing. While we saw a noticeable difference in the older scar, noting that it faded nicely to the point of mostly blending in with our skin, we didn’t see the same kind of results with the newer scar.Contracture Scars: Burns and other wide-spread damage (often involving skin grafts) will often result in contracture scars, which “contract” the skin. Though, these can occur in small areas, too. Contracture scars can have a wrinkle- or stretched-looking texture.

Because of this, no two scars are the same. From raised ones (such as hypertrophic or keloid scars), to indentations, discolored spots, and stretch marks, there’s a variety of scar types. While there’s nothing wrong with embracing your scars (just look at how celebs like Sarah Hyland and Lena Dunham have proudly displayed theirs on social media), there’s also no shame in wanting them to go the eff away. Scars are a part of the skin's natural healing process and are the body’s way of repairing itself. Scars can appear in different shapes and sizes, they will usually fade over time but may never completely disappear. Scars are caused by breaks in the skin that may be the result of injury, burns or surgery. Vitamin E - powerful antioxidant, protects the skin from external factors, regulate the natural water balance.

Wigger-Albert W, et al. (2009). Efficacy of a polyurethane dressing versus a soft silicone sheet on hypertrophic scars. and below: We don't recommend scar creams with this rating; you won't find any on our list. We Also Tested