Silicone — either in the form of sheets, creams or gels — is one of the most effective treatments for reducing the appearance of scars and preventing them from forming, experts told us. Silicone works as an occlusive barrier for the scar, which means it creates a seal over the surface of the skin.
To reduce the appearance of scars, creams and other products hydrate and smooth the area, reducing redness and evening out the skin. Dr. Gilbert notes that “excellent results can be achieved” with scar creams and “you will see improvement in your scar.” However, total elimination is unlikely.
Topical creams such as Mederma, Aquaphor and Eucerine are known for softening scars. Make sure any topical cream you purchase doesn't contain anything your child is allergic to. Some ingredients to look for in a topical treatment include: Onion bulb extract: an anti-inflammatory.
It's never too late for scar revision. Many scar care products, such as silicone sheet applications or topical silicone gel, have shown efficacy even on scars that are several years old. Whether the scar resulted from a plastic surgery or a burn, proper care can improve the appearance of scars significantly.
The use of silicone gel sheeting may help prevent the development of hypertrophic scars and improve their appearance,34 pressure dressings may aid with scar maturation, and scar massage or pulsed-dye lasers may provide symptomatic relief with itching.
Topical Treatments with Retinoids: Retinoid-based creams are known to increase cell turnover and fade dark scars faster. Chemical Peels: Chemical peels can remove dead skin cells and lighten scars. They are particularly effective for dark scars on the face or body.
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Ice Pick Scars: Deep, narrow, pitted scars—usually the most difficult to treat. Boxcar Scars: Round or oval depressions with sharp edges that appear shallow. Rolling Scars: Wavy depressions that create an uneven skin surface. Keloid and Hypertrophic Scars: Raised scars from excessive collagen production during healing.
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Herein, we report a case series including patients with hypertrophic and keloid scars treated with Dermatix, showing that Dermatix is effective for scar treatment and prevention, as well as expert consensus supporting the safe and effective use of Dermatix.
Use Vaseline® Jelly for Scars
By sealing in moisture it also helps to reduce dryness of scarred skin, once your skin has healed. This may help to improve the appearance of scars, making the skin look smoother and softer, as well as help to reduce itchiness caused by dryness.
Silicone may hydrate the scar tissue and reduce the production of collagen fibres (see scar massage information sheet). It has also been shown to reduce redness and to make the scar flatter, softer and paler. How do I use the silicon? Your therapist will give you instructions for how to use the silicone.
Starting too early—while the skin is still open or healing—can increase the risk of irritation or infection. For surgical scars or injuries, this typically means waiting 2–3 weeks post-procedure, or until the incision site is completely healed and scabs have fallen off naturally.
Scar massage is a way of softening and flattening scars. It can stop scar tissue build up and help make scars less noticeable. Your scar or scars will continue to grow and change for about twelve to eighteen months, so the earlier and more regularly you massage your scar, the less the chance of long-term problems.
Some degree of scarring is a normal part of your body's repair system. However, when a scar looks abnormal or doesn't improve over time, it may point to delayed healing, underlying infection, or an overactive healing response that leads to abnormal scar types like keloids or hypertrophic scars.
The body's natural healing process can continue for up to two years, and scar tissue can change and improve over time. Therefore, it is rarely too late to massage scar tissue, even for several months or years old scars.
Moisturizing creams hydrate the skin, reduce itch, soften scars, and prevent water loss—key for healing young or inflamed scars. Regular use supports smoother, more flexible scar tissue with minimal side effects.
Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, which can be harmful to healing wounds. The presence of debris, bacteria or other impurities in open skin can trigger infection and extend the inflammation period. Fisher says prolonged inflammation enhances scar formation.
Discover Bio Oil (60ml), both clinically proven to help treat the appearance of stretch marks and scars; and also, thanks to a PurCellin with Vitamin A & Vitamin E blend, is effective at providing greater texture and elasticity to skin.
Silicone Gel or Sheets: Often used for surgical or hypertrophic scars. Silicone hydrates the scar tissue and helps flatten and soften it over time. Retinoids (Retinol, Tretinoin): Vitamin A derivatives that encourage skin turnover and collagen production, effective for acne scars and stretch marks.
Between approximately four and eight weeks the scar will look much wider and redder than it did initially. This is usually the worst the scar will look, and this is a natural part of the healing process. The scar will tend to remain red for 1-6 months afterwards.
Dermatologists may inject a corticosteroid solution directly into a hypertrophic scar or keloid, which may help reduce its size. Steroids break the bonds between collagen fibers, which reduces the amount of scar tissue beneath the skin.
Silicone gels or sheets can be used on healing skin (not open wounds) to help soften and flatten a scar. They can also relieve itching and discomfort. To be effective, silicone gels or sheets should be placed over the scar for 12 hours a day for at least three months. They can be washed and reused.