Whether from surgery, trauma, pregnancy or acne, scars can be problematic or even embarrassing. A safe, effective scar cream can be hard to find though. There are so many over the counter (OTC) products to choose from and they all make the same amazing claims. So where do you start?
All these products promise to improve scars. Unfortunately, many individuals are left disappointed by the results. Most scar creams contain very few active ingredients or none at all. Most popular treatments are often bought because of their marketing and not their effectiveness. Before buying or using a scar treatment, be sure to research it’s ingredients using reliable sources including medical literature if possible.
A great example of this is Vitamin E. Many scientific studies have shown that vitamin E either fails to improve, or even worsens, scar appearance in 90% of cases! Not only that, but 33% of users develop contact dermatitis from using it. Yet, most scar products include it. Why?…. Because people wrongly believe vitamin E is good for scars and they expect to see it in the ingredients list. The truth of the matter is that vitamin E should not be used as a scar treatment because of these risks.
Another great example is onion extract (the main ingredient in Mederma skin care). Again, many companies, including the “chain store own brands”, have jumped on the onion extract bandwagon despite studies showing it fares no better than plain petroleum jelly in improving scar appearance.
One vitamin that HAS been shown to improve scar healing is vitamin C which normalizes collagen production within the scar tissue. Scientific studies have also shown repeatedly that silicone scar therapy, either in the form of gel or sheeting, helps fade and soften scars. Silicone is the topical treatment that all others are measured against.
Most scar creams contain water which encourages the growth of bacteria. These bacteria are introduced into the cream once the container is opened by the user’s hand. To prevent this growth of bacteria and potential infections, skin care companies use preservatives like parabens, methylparabens and formaldehydes. While there are plenty more to choose from, these are the most commonly used preservatives. Unfortunately, they are also among the most irritating and cause contact allergy in as many as 9% of users.
It’s not jut the picking the right scar cream that’s important. Some people don’t actually take care of the fresh wound as they should. Use an antibacterial, skin-friendly soap like Dial to keep the affected area clean and decrease the risk of infection. Fresh skin wounds should also be kept covered for the first few days. Half-strength peroxide works well to clean dirty wounds but should be avoided once the injury has been cleaned of all debris. This is because peroxide not only kills germs, but also the “good” skin cells needed for wound healing.
Once the top layer of skin is healed over (and any sutures are removed), start using your scar therapy of choice. Keep using it until you stop seeing an improvement. This takes some patience though. Even the most need time to soften and fade scars.
Also protect newer scars (less than 2 years old) from the sun with sun block or clothing. Repeat, prolonged exposure to the sun can cause scars to become dark or more red, making them even more noticeable. Color changes are not as likely once the scar is more than 2 years old.
Finally, scar massage helps break down scar tissue which helps soften and flatten scars. This is why most plastic surgeons recommend it. Massage your scar cream of choice into your scar firmly for the best results.
Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon with a special interest in ingredients. He is Chief Science Officer for InviCible Scars, a hypo-allergenic, , 100% free of preservatives, fragrances, petroleum, mineral oil and alcohol.
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