At first, many scars will be raised above the skin but some will flatten out over time, creating a flat scar that often blends in with the color of your skin. People often don’t feel the need to treat these scars since they are already flush with their skin, but if you want your scar to blend in better with your skin color, a treatment containing allantoin or onion extract may affect the pigmentation of your scar. Stretch Marks Chemical sunscreen: Dr. Palm says chemical sunscreens (such as oxybenzone or avobenzone) can cause a reaction, so if possible, choose an SPF product with physical sunscreen ingredients like titanium dioxide. In a 2016 study, researchers concluded that there isn’t enough evidence that topical vitamin E has a significant beneficial effect on scars to justify its widespread use. They noted the need for more high quality studies. Subrahmanyam M. (2017). Treating minor burns with potato peel dressings. https://jbcr.net.in/JBCR-VOL-4-Issue-1/pdf/JBCR%20Vol%204%20Issue%201%2008082018-3.pdf In one 2019 review that looked at 23 trials, researchers concluded that aloe vera can improve wound healing and can help with scars when used alongside other methods.

There’s limited medical evidence supporting the idea that potatoes can help with scars. But one 2017 study found that potato peel may help heal minor burns.

Scar Treatments Provided by a Doctor

If you’re ready to seriously invest in treating a scar yourself the Sunnie Skin SCAR SMOOTH™ Medical Grade Scar Reducing Kit contains more than one tool to help you reduce the appearance of scars. Even though there were three components (a gel, a wand, and a roll of scar tape), it didn’t take us more than five minutes a day to run through all the steps of the kit.

Preservatives and fragrances: If you’re typically sensitive to added ingredients in beauty and cosmetic products, you should take care to avoid them in your scar treatments as well. Fragrance-free, odorless products are less likely to irritate. Wang Y, et al. (2014). Staphylococcus epidermidis in the human skin microbiome mediates fermentation to inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes: Implications of probiotics in acne vulgaris. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.When a large area of skin is damaged and has to join together again in the healing process, it can create a scar that not only feels tight but can cause problems with your muscles and tendons. These scars often require surgical intervention, so you should see a dermatologist if you’re interested in treating a contracture scar. Ingredients Silicone Maurya AK, et al. (2018). The essential oil from Citrus limetta Risso peels alleviates skin inflammation: In-vitro and in-vivo study. 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. Mederma Scar Cream + SPF 30: The Mederma Scar Cream with SPF was non-greasy and easy to apply, but the instructions said it should be applied three times per day—which felt like a lot, considering it didn’t make our scars look any different. to 4.7 stars: These scar creams are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them.

Dr. Brazzo says allantoin can hydrate the skin, soften keratin, and promote healing. You might also see hyaluronic acid in some scar treatments for the same reason. Allantoin and hyaluronic acid together stimulate collagen production, notes Dr. Brazzo, which restores the skin’s natural architecture and leads to smoother skin with normal elasticity and color. Lin TK, et al. (2018). Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils. Throughout the lab testing phase and our research, we also relied on the expertise of several dermatologists and plastic surgeons, both in the Lab phase of our testing and during the research process: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. Thamboo A, et al. (2016). Objective and subjective scar aesthetics with topical manuka honey post-thyroidectomy: A randomized control study. Lei Z, et al. (2019). Rosehip oil promotes excisional wound healing by accelerating the phenotypic transition of macrophages. An older 1995 study that looked specifically at postsurgical wound healing noted significant improvement when baking soda was applied. This was observed at day 7 and more so at day 14.