Dr. Rapaport credits the cream’s effectiveness to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, onion extract, and peptides, which she says have all been shown to minimize the appearance of scars and enhance the texture of the skin. Plus, she notes that allowing your skin to absorb the nutrients in the cream overnight aids in its ability to leave you with a healthier, more even complexion. The scientific evidence around vitamin E and scars is inconclusive. Research on how vitamin E can treat acne and heal its scars is inconclusive. Thamboo A, et al. (2016). Objective and subjective scar aesthetics with topical manuka honey post-thyroidectomy: A randomized control study. 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. A powerful skin protector inhibiting free radicals, allowing your skin’s natural oils to be retained, combating skin damage, boosting skin health. Nature’s most powerful antioxidant and skin protector.

Continue rubbing and replacing for about 20 minutes and then let the scar air-dry for about 10 minutes.There are several different types of scars, says Dr. Rapaport, and you should figure out which kind you have before choosing a treatment. We tested the Aroamas Scar Professional Silicone Scar Sheets on a four-year-old scar on our face where the skin was damaged enough to prohibit hair growth in that area. While it was a little awkward to cut the sheets down to the appropriate size for a facial scar (and we couldn’t leave the sheets on 24/7, as recommended) we were still impressed with the results we saw.

Derma E Scar Gel: We liked the ease of application with this gel, but the lavender scent was overpowering and the small amount you get for the cost seemed a little unreasonable since it didn’t have a hugely noticeable effect on our scars. Bio-Oil Multiuse Skincare Oil: This oil was super hydrating, but also kind of messy. And while it helped clear up our mild scabbing, it didn’t do much in terms of changing the appearance of our scars. No matter how careful you are, scars happen. Environmental exposures, infections, injuries—the possibilities for acquiring scars are endless. While some scars are small and inconspicuous enough to go unnoticed, others may be larger, darker, rougher, or in a highly visible location. If you have a more noticeable scar, you may have considered using a scar cream to help repair it faster. Scar creams can not only speed the healing process but also moisturize the skin, which further promotes health and regrowth. A dermatologist or plastic surgeon will probably not be able get rid of your scar entirely, but can improve the way it looks or reduce its size. Some people are more likely to retain scars or scar more easily, Pittman says. This can relate to your age, ethnicity and whether or not you smoke. Smoking negatively affects your wound healing. Younger people, as well as people of Asian descent and those with darker skin are more likely to develop scars. 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:

Scar Treatments Provided by a Doctor

Cut open a vitamin E capsule over the scar and squeeze the oil onto the scar (you might need more than just one capsule to get enough liquid for full coverage). Because the scar we tested with these sheets was more than four years old, we were impressed when they improved both the pigmentation and texture of the scar—especially since we only wore the sheets at night while we slept. However, it was pretty uncomfortable for us to keep them on for the recommended 24 hours a day, so keep that in mind.