Get Rid of Scars

Fist off, let's get one thing straight - no scar therapy will ever get rid of scars 100%. Having said that, an effective scar cream will flatten, soften, lighten and fade a scar significantly.

Generally speaking, you should start your treatment of choice once the initial scar forms. Most scar creams/lotions recommend application 2 - 3 times a day. Massage the cream or lotion into the scar until it is well absorbed. Keep scars out of the sun or covered with sun block to prevent permanent redness. Scar treatments should generally not be applied to open wounds.

Many skin care products contain preservatives (like parabens), fragrances and also vitamin E (tocopherol). These 3 ingredients are usually the culprits when it comes to allergic reactions like contact dermatitis. Though vitamin E is recommended very frequently by physicians for scar care, it actually causes contact dermatitis in up to 33% of users! Vitamin E is a great anti-oxidant and it can prevent sun damage but it does absolutely nothing for scar healing. Multiple studies have shown that. Always read the ingredients. Avoid using anything that lists any of these "bad 3", especially if you're looking for something that's hypo-allergenic. Another potential skin irritant to avoid is mineral oil.

Scar creams, lotions or gels are generally much more user-friendly than sheet scar treatments (like silicone sheeting), particularly when it comes to applying make-up, moisturizers or sun-block. These should all be applied over the scar treatment once it has been absorbed.

Complete scar healing generally takes up to 2 years. This means that in some cases you won't know how much your scar will fade until then. If a treatment is working, keep using it until you see no further improvement. Remember though, nothing works with intermittent ("when you remember") use - if you don't follow the instructions then there's no way you'll get your money's worth.

Do your research and pick the right product for you. Make sure you choose something that is backed by scientific evidence not hearsay, dogma, or old wives' tales. Remember also that you generally get what you pay for.

So which scar treatments are backed by science?