“Open skin makes sensitization to a potential allergen more likely,” says Dr. Consider what type of product you’ll be happy to actually turn to multiple times per day, more than anything else.ĭepending on the type of product you choose, you may need to look out for allergic reactions. It’s more a matter of personal preference: Some people find oils messy, some people like the easy absorption of creams, and others like thicker ointments to keep the wound moist. Brazzo agrees, noting that the actual form of the treatment you choose (except to choose the right product for the right body part) just isn’t that important. Palm says that early scar intervention with light and laser treatments greatly improves the appearance of scars.ĭr. Plus, depending on the severity of your scar, you may need to step up your treatment game Dr. In other words, you still have to take care of your skin. “Limiting activity during recovery takes tension off the wound, photoprotect skin with physical sunscreen agents and help enhance normal collagen production with growth factors and peptides.” “Topical scar creams are only a small portion of successful scar healing,” says Melanie Palm, MD, a dermatologist at Art of Skin MD. Brazzo says you would be better off with a topical product you can apply a few times per day.Ĭreams, oils, patches-what type of scar treatment do you actually need, and how do you choose one? Before you stress out too much, know this: your scar won’t heal based on OTC products alone, so it’s not a make-it-or-break-it decision. If the scar you’re treating is on your face or one of these highly-mobile areas, Dr. “They also reduce tension on the wound, which may contribute to less scar tissue developing, they need to be worn full-time for weeks or months.” “ help to keep the wound moist and also add surface pressure to attempt to keep the scar flat,” he explains. Brazzo says they typically don’t work well for your face or jointed parts of the body that are always moving (like your knee or elbow, for example). While silicone patches or strips can be effective treatments, Dr. The best scar treatment on the market won’t do much for you if it’s not compatible with the part of the body you want to use it on. Lastly, you might find an unusual ingredient in many scar creams-onion extract, which has been shown to be an effective complementary treatment to many more common scar-healing ingredients like allantoin and petroleum-based ointments. Brazzo says allantoin and hyaluronic acid “stimulate collagen production, which restores the natural architecture to the skin leads to smoother skin with normal elasticity and color.” You might also see hyaluronic acid in some scar treatments for the same reason: Dr. Brazzo says can hydrate the skin, soften keratin, and promote healing. Or, opt for a product with allantoin, which Dr. When possible, choose a smoother, thinner silicone-based product to make application easier. “There are many types of silicone that can be rubbed onto the skin some of these are quick drying, but many of them are thick and pasty and annoying for people to use.” Brian Brazzo, an ophthalmic and facial plastic surgeon in New York City. “Probably the most common ingredient in OTC scar preparation is silicone,” says Dr. In general, you should look for a scar cream with silicone or allantoin (or both) for maximum scar healing power. What to Look for in a Scar Cream Ingredients We also had a cosmetic dermatologist from our Medical Expert Board review this article for accuracy regarding how these products work, when to use them, and how often.īased on our careful review of scar treatments from the top brands according to these expert-recommended criteria, here are the best scar creams. We spoke with dermatologists about the most important things to consider in a scar cream: their ingredients (look for silicone, vitamin E, aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid in particular), texture (the more lightweight, the better), whether the form of the treatment is well suited for the location of the scar on your body, and whether the treatment may interact negatively with another product in your skincare routine. The best over-the-counter scar creams will not only speed the healing process but also moisturize the skin, further promoting health and re-growth. To help repair your skin, if you have one of these more noticeable scars, you might have considered using a scar cream. Some scars are small and inconspicuous, tiny enough to go unnoticed, but others may be larger, darker, rougher, or in a highly visible location. That said, your skin can get pretty roughed up in the process of protecting you-and you might even have the scars to show for it. It’s kind of like your own personal bodyguard. Your skin is one of your toughest, most resilient organs, tasked with protecting you against environmental exposures, infections, and injuries.
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