The 14 Very Best Products to Get Rid of and Prevent Scars

Treatment: Prevention | Active ingredient: Petroleum jelly

If you’re allergic to lanolin — an ingredient found in Aquaphor — Vaseline is a solid alternative. Vaseline is pure petroleum jelly, so “it will add a layer of protection and act as a barrier to protect the wound while also promoting wound healing,” says Dr. Nazanin Saedi, a Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist. Fellow dermatologist and founder of Roswell Skin Dr. Brandon Cometti also recommends Vaseline, but as an alternative to Neosporin. “If you experience irritation or redness when applying an antibiotic ointment, then you should stop and switch to a plain emollient,” he says.

Function: Protection | Active ingrediens: Zinc oxide

Protecting the wound from the sun is also key, according to the derms I spoke to. That’s especially true of newer wounds, since “some protection is essential for the first six months while the scar is remodeling and healing,” Doft explains.“The sun is your enemy and will impede good wound healing and worsen the scar,” says Fishman. Evan Rieder, a board-certified dermatologist and faculty member in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Langone (he’s also board-certified in psychiatry), agrees: “Any sort of exposure will make the scar darker.” Rieder recommends sunscreen with physical blockers, or those that contain active mineral ingredients, like zinc and titanium. Howe says that “a fresh wound or scar is more prone to sunburn than normal skin,” and that “a titanium- or zinc-containing sunscreen that’s at least an SPF 30 should be applied daily.” He and dermatologist Anita Cela, who specializes in cosmetic dermatology, recommend sunscreens from EltaMD, which happens to be a Strategist favorite.

Function: Treatment | Active ingredients: Silicone

The ideal time to start treating the scar is a week or two after an injury or a surgical incision. A silicone-based gel can be easily applied to small or irregularly shaped wounds (ones that are too tricky to slap a silicone patch on — more on that below). “Silicone sheets are very effective in treating scars, providing an optimal dressing for helping scars heal,” says Karp. These are more effective than popular onion-extract-based products like Mederma. According to Howe, silicone-based topicals are “the simplest OTC treatment for raised, or hypertrophic, scars.” He says that they work “by exerting a small amount of compressive pressure on the scar, making it flatten and/or soften.” Although there aren’t definitive medical studies that prove that silicone works best, the dermatologists we spoke to said there are studies and other evidence that show that applying silicone products on a daily basis helps scars maturate appropriately and minimizes cosmetic damage. Dermatologist Caroline Robinson, founder of Tone Dermatology, says the theory behind silicone is that it “mimics our skin barrier and it really helps to lock and trap moisture.” Chwalek, Karp, Cela, and Fishman all recommend ScarAway, which comes in sheets (as well as a gel). The sheets are self-adhesive, making them a convenient overnight treatment (no gel-covered skin touching your sheets), and reusable. Consistency — and patience — is key when using silicone sheets. Kikam says you must be able to commit to wearing them anywhere from 8–24 hours each day (changing out the sheet daily) for several months to see results. Experts add that ScarAway sheets may also help minimize the appearance of old scars too.

Function: Treatment | Active ingredients: Silicone

For smaller or irregularly shaped wounds, you might prefer using a silicone-based gel over a sheet. When it comes to gels, Howe and Dr. Adarsh Vijay Mudgil of Mudgil Dermatology both recommend Strataderm. “It consists of a blend of silicones in a topical gel that you put on once daily without any sticky mess,” says Howe. The transparent gel both hydrates and protects scars, while the pressure from the silicone helps raised scars that “contain a good deal more collagen than normal skin” become “flatter and less hard,” according to Howe. Strataderm can also help reduce redness. Mudgil agrees that “topical gels containing silicone can improve the appearance of scars by reducing thickness and redness.” He likes Strataderm because it’s “quick drying” and “does not contain any ingredients that can cause allergy or irritation,” but notes, “tropical treatments really only provide benefit in the very early stages of scar formation.” During this time, Mudgil advises applying any gel to a scar daily.

Function: Treatment | Active ingredients: Silicone, SPF

Another gel product Cela and Chwalek recommend is Biocorneum. It has the added benefit of being SPF 30, so it protects both old and new scars from discoloration and redness caused by the sun. It’s also a gel that Levine recommends to patients since “silicone plus SPF is an ideal combination for scar management.” 

Function: Treatment | Ingredients: Vitamin E, Chamomile, Lavender Oil

Bio-Oil is one of those products I’ve always just known about. When I was younger, it was the product that my mom reached for after my thigh got shredded by our new kitten. As I get older, it’s a product that I go to to soothe the stretch marks on my body. Recently, I spoke to rapper Denzel Curry, who told me as well as healing marks and bumps on his skin, it’s also just great for hydration. On the topic of stretch marks, though, I want to flag that for those with pregnancy-related stretch marks (not growing pains like mine), there’s some conflicting advice as to whether Bio-Oil should be used during nursing.

Function: Treatment | Active ingredients: Silicone

Rounding out our list of expert-recommended silicone products is Pro-Sil, which Cela likes because it comes in a glide-on stick for easy application on the go.

Function: Treatment | Active ingredients: Zinc, shea butter

Dr. Idriss also likes this cream from La Roche-Posay, which happens to be my favorite moisturizer of all time. As well as working wonders on dry skin, I slather it over any nicks or scrapes to both calm them down, and encourage them to heal faster. Infused with zinc, it soothes inflammation. It also contains centella asiatica and shea butter, two ingredients known for their nourishing and hydrating properties.

Function: Treatment | Active ingredients: THD Ascorbate, vitamin E

Even after wounds have healed, you may still be dealing with hyperpigmentation. According to Robinson, these areas of discoloration — commonly seen with acne scars — are often caused by underlying inflammation. “There is often some component of inflammation under the surface of the skin that’s allowing that hyperpigmentation to be persistent,” she says. To treat these red and brown spots, she looks for products rich in antioxidants that improve both hyperpigmentation and the skin’s overall health. She likes the Revision C+ Correcting Complex serum because “it addresses both brown and red spots, and it addresses skin quality through the antioxidant function.”

Function Treatment | Active ingredients Resorcinol, tranexamic acid, glycolic acid, hydroquinone

Along with brightening antioxidant products, dermatologist Charlotte Birnbaum of Spring Street Dermatology, recommends hydroquinone — a lightening agent that decreases pigment production — for dark scars and hyperpigmentation. There are more potent prescription medications with hydroquinone, but for an effective over-the-counter option, she likes this Murad serum.