Selecting the perfect scar lotions could make an enormous distinction in how your pores and skin repairs itself. Scars are a totally pure a part of restoration, whether or not they come from a breakout, a kitchen mishap, surgical procedure, or that point you bought a bit of too daring together with your curling iron. And whereas there’s no disgrace in having them, it’s additionally completely okay to wish to assist them fade. The excellent news is that immediately’s scar lotions go means past primary moisturizers. They’re filled with components that hydrate, soothe, and help the therapeutic course of.
“There are many choices on this space, however one of the simplest ways to decide on a method is to evaluate what your wants and objectives are first,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based mostly in Miami. Joshua Korman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Northern California, agrees—and provides that understanding your scar’s traits is essential. “It’s necessary to determine your scar: new or previous, colour (how purple, how pigmented), texture (raised or flat), and if they’re bothersome, like itchy or painful,” Understanding the kind of scar means that you can give attention to the therapy that works greatest for you, as totally different scars do not all the time react the identical solution to varied components or strategies.
Our High Picks
Whether or not your scar is model new or a number of years within the making, there’s one thing on the market that may assist. Listed below are the perfect scar lotions value making an attempt now.
Regularly Requested Questions
Greatest General: SkinCeuticals Superior Scar Management
Why we adore it: SkinCeuticals is a type of manufacturers that comes up always once we discuss to dermatologists and plastic surgeons, and the SkinCeuticals Superior Scar Management is a favourite for brand spanking new and up to date scars alike. “I like to recommend utilizing an occlusive moisturizer with components like silicone to melt the scar, at the side of in-office therapies like steroid injections or laser resurfacing therapies to cut back the scar’s top and dimension over time,” says board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Catherine Chang, MD, who relies in Los Angeles. This clean, non-sticky gel offers an occlusive barrier to guard pores and skin and assist flatten and fade new scars, comparable to these from surgical procedure, bug bites, or breakouts. It’s loaded with 95% medical-grade silicones, plus calming allantoin and fatty acids to maintain therapeutic pores and skin hydrated and pleased. You get much less redness, much less discoloration, and a a lot smoother end over time.
Attract editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel used this to deal with burn scars frm cooking. “Once I smoothed the clear gel on my burns after the peeling stopped, it felt like a mattifying primer (and even had an analogous blurring impact). I utilized it morning and night time as part of my skin-care routine, adopted by a layer of sunscreen for daytime,” she says, noting that she’s liable to raised scars. “After a number of weeks, I seen my most up-to-date burn didn’t get as darkish, which implies I received’t have to attend the standard six months for the proof of my baking failure to fade.”
- Key components: silicone, allantoin, fatty acids, silica
- Product kind: gel
- Scar kind it is best for: new and up to date scars
Greatest Silicone Strips: Embrace Lively Scar Protection
Why we adore it: Embrace Lively Scar Protection isn’t your common scar therapy—it’s an FDA-cleared silicone remedy system developed by Stanford researchers to assist maintain scars flat, clean, and fewer noticeable from the beginning. “These are available silicone strips and can be found in varied sizes,” says Dr. Korman. “The strips relieve pressure on the incision and likewise present the advantages of silicone to the scar. Decreasing pressure is essential to minimizing surgical scars.”
Every medical-grade silicone sheet stays in place for seven to 10 days, even via exercises and showers. Throughout a 60-day course, Dr. Korman says he has seen glorious outcomes, particularly on new scar tissue.
Dr. Korman notes that this may trigger occasional pores and skin irritation, so maintain a watch out when you’ve got delicate pores and skin.
- Key components: silicone
- Product kind: sheet
- Scar kind it is best for: new hypertrophic or keloid scars lower than six months previous
Greatest with SPF: Biocorneum Superior Scar Remedy
Why we adore it: Biocorneum Superior Scar Remedy is a go-to amongst plastic surgeons, particularly as a result of defending scars from solar publicity is essential to stopping darkening and hyperpigmentation. “Crosslinked silicone gel and SPF 30 are packed into this product,” says Dr. Korman. “I’ve discovered that each the colour and the feel of scars enhance after a number of weeks to months of utilizing it.” As the one FDA-cleared scar gel that mixes medical-grade silicone with broad-spectrum SPF 30, it helps fade and shield therapeutic scars with out the necessity for tapes or strips, which may generally irritate delicate pores and skin. “It’s simple to use and has nearly no unwanted effects,” provides Dr. Korman. It’s additionally nice for scars on joints, curves, and bigger areas.
Obtained a kiddo with a scraped knee? This scar therapy is appropriate for kids over six months.
- Key components: silicone, avobenzone, hemosalate, meradimate, octisalate, octocrylene
- Product kind: cream
- Scar kind it is best for: previous scars lower than a 12 months previous and new hypertrophic or keloid scars
Greatest Drugstore: Avène Cicalfate+ Scar Gel
Why we adore it: Avène Cicalfate+ Scar Gel is a dermatologist favourite to assuage and deal with scars, significantly on delicate pores and skin, because of its light, fragrance-free method. “It’s my most really useful over-the-counter therapy,” says Dr. Chacon. “Its silicone gel method has a delicate texture mixed with hyaluronic acid to enhance the looks of the scar whereas locking in optimum hydration for therapeutic help.” The method additionally options Avène’s signature thermal spring water, identified for its calming, anti-inflammatory properties, together with C+ Restore, a protein-rich postbiotic that helps nourish the pores and skin barrier.
Avène’s thermal spring water is filled with skin-loving minerals and parts to assuage irritation and calm that itchy, irritated feeling that occurs as your pores and skin heals.
- Key components: hyaluronic acid, thermal spring water, silicone, copper-zinc sulfate complicated
- Product kind: gel
- Scar kind it is best for: new hypertrophic or keloid scars lower than six months previous
Greatest for Stretch Marks: Tronque Scar Focus
Why we adore it: Tronque Scar Focus is a vitamin C-rich oil that goes past typical scar lotions. “I adore it as a result of it’s an oil versus the standard cream, which some sufferers truly want,” says Dr. Chacon. “It’s supercharged with botanical extracts like algae and nutritional vitamins A and C to cut back scar harm.” The method options 4 varieties of vitamin C—together with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate—for critical brightening, collagen help, and skin-smoothing energy, plus bakuchiol (a delicate retinol various), pink algae, and 26 bioactive botanicals. You should utilize it throughout your physique, layer it below your moisturizer, and reapply as typically as wanted.
Its distinctive oil format makes it simpler to cowl bigger physique areas or scars in want of softening and deep nourishment.
- Key components: vitamin C THD, biotech virgin maracuja oil, pink algae
- Product kind: oil
- Scar kind it is best for: newer stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, previous scars
Greatest for Previous Scars: Mederma Superior Scar Gel
Why we adore it: Mederma Superior Scar Gel is a longtime drugstore favourite. “This product comprises allantoin, an anti-inflammatory ingredient that lightly exfoliates and moisturizes the pores and skin,” says Ruth McTighe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Mt. Nice, SC. It’s the one model to incorporate “cepalin—onion bulb extract—which helps regulate collagen manufacturing and helps cell regeneration.” The gel texture absorbs simply, making it supreme for brand spanking new surgical scars or small scars from cuts and burns. “You may usually anticipate to note some enchancment in softness after a few month, with extra seen modifications—like decreased redness and smoother texture—after two to 3 months,” she provides.
Onion bulb extract helps kickstart cell turnover, which may make scars look much less purple, raised, and stiff over time.
- Key components: onion bulb extract, allantoin
- Product kind: gel
- Scar kind it is best for: previous and new scars (use for no less than eight weeks on new scars; as much as six months on older ones)
Greatest for Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars: ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets
Why we adore it: For those who’re coping with hypertrophic scars (these thick, raised marks that keep throughout the authentic wound) or keloids (scars that develop past it), ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets are value a strive. “These versatile, breathable strips are made with medical-grade silicone that creates a snug barrier over your pores and skin to assist lock in moisture and help wholesome collagen manufacturing,” says Dr. McTighe. In addition they assist ease itching, dryness, and general discomfort. You may trim them to suit or layer them for bigger areas—and since they’re waterproof, they keep in place for as much as 10 days. With constant use, scars typically seem smoother and fewer noticeable inside one to 3 months.
Be sure your pores and skin is clear and dry earlier than making use of the sheet—any leftover lotion or oil can maintain it from sticking correctly.
- Key components: silicone
- Product kind: sheet
- Scar kind it is best for: previous or new hypertrophic and keloid scars
Greatest for Below Make-up: Violette_FR Invisible Bandage
Why we adore it: Regardless of the identify, Violette_FR’s Invisible Bandage isn’t an precise bandage—it’s a transparent, gel-like method that acts as an invisible defend to your pores and skin. Winner of an Attract Better of Magnificence Breakthrough Award, this modern product is much less of a conventional scar therapy and extra of a skincare-meets-makeup hybrid.
Whereas it’s not meant for deep or raised scars, it’s extremely useful for recent, minor marks, post-inflammatory discoloration, darkish spots, and therapeutic blemishes. Infused with niacinamide, CM-glucan, and hydrolyzed purple algae extract, it helps calm irritation and help pores and skin restore. It dries down easily, like a primer, so you possibly can layer make-up proper on prime.
Niacinamide helps fade darkish spots by slowing down how a lot pigment your pores and skin sends to the floor, so these post-breakout marks don’t stick round as lengthy.
- Key components: niacinamide, CM-glucan, hydrolyzed purple algae extract;
- Product kind: gel
- Scar kind it is best for: new minor scars or pimples scars
Greatest for Zits Scars: Dr. Idriss Main Fade Lively Seal Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer
Why we adore it: Dr. Idriss Main Fade Lively Seal Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer is a component antioxidant serum, half moisturizer, and totally dedicated to fading darkish spots. Whether or not you are coping with atrophic scars (these post-acne indents in pores and skin), solar spots, or lingering discoloration, this light-weight, fragrance-free gel delivers outcomes with out irritation.
It packs a robust punch of brighteners—tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (a secure, light type of vitamin C) and 4-butylresorcinol—to even out tone and assist stop future pigment buildup. Plus, glycerin boosts hydration by drawing water into the pores and skin, leaving you with a recent, dewy glow. Consider it as your all-in-one for smoother, extra even-toned pores and skin.
Whereas it is wonderful for post-acne marks and hyperpigmentation, treating your entire face ensures a good pores and skin tone general.
- Key components: vitamin C, glycerin, hydrolyzed brassica napus seedcake extract
- Product kind: cream
- Scar kind it is best for: post-acne scars
Greatest for New Scars: SkinMedica Scar Restoration Gel
Why we adore it: As soon as your wound is all sealed up, it’s go time—and SkinMedica Scar Restoration Gel is right here to assist when your pores and skin is in restoration mode, but the scar continues to be recent. This light-weight, non-greasy gel comprises a soothing mix of centella asiatica, bulbine frutescens, and olive leaf extract to calm redness, enhance pores and skin texture, and stop scars from turning into fixed reminders. Plus, lactic acid gently encourages cell turnover, selling brighter and extra even pores and skin. Better of all, it’s fragrance-free, sting-free, and absorbs in simply seconds, so utilizing it twice a day looks like a breeze.
Oleuropein, a pure compound from olive leaves, helps neutralize free radicals that may mess with scar therapeutic and velocity up getting old.
- Key components: Centella Asiatica, bulbine frutescens, olive leaf extract, lactic acid
- Product kind: gel
- Scar kind it is best for: new scars
Regularly Requested Questions
What components assist scars?
There are many components that may assist enhance the looks of scars, “however one of the simplest ways to decide on a method is to evaluate what your wants and objectives are first earlier than selecting a product,” says Dr. Chacon. To guard and moisturize, she recommends beginning with silicone-based gels or sheets: “These merchandise work to seal off the scar and shield and hydrate the affected space.” For hyperpigmented scars, Dr. Chacon suggests utilizing hydroquinone, which works to lighten the realm with skin-lightening brokers. Nevertheless, she warns that “utilizing a high quality sunscreen is essential if the scar will probably be uncovered to daylight to stop worsened scarring.” For raised keloid scars, “corticosteroid is the ingredient to hunt out from a clinician as these lotions assist to interrupt down keloid scars and cut back irritation and the scale of the scar,” she says.
