While there are a variety of natural remedies for minimizing the appearance of mild scars, these are not always sufficient. While some people find scar creams to be a bit of a hoax, others claim they are quite a successful product. Ultimately, this seems to have a lot to do with the active ingredients in your scar cream. Here’s a look at the top scar creams for minimizing scars.
Aloe Vera Products
Aloe vera is a plant often used to soothe small burns. It is a healer and a moisturizer that can help scarred cells regenerate, lessening the appearance of mild scars. While you can use the gel that comes straight out of the plant, some scar cream products that contain aloe vera have additional benefits. However, it is also important to remember that some of these products contain preservatives that actually counteract the healing effects of the aloe plant. “We Love Aloe” recommends the following brands:
Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera is not only good for acne scars, but the acne itself. It does tend to dehydrate the skin, but it also doesn’t give your skin a greasy feeling. It comes in gel form, much like other aloe vera products intended for sunburns. It also contains a softening agent, vitamin E, and an antimicrobial agent.
California Baby Aloe Vera Cream has, obviously, a creamier texture as opposed to a gel consistency. It is a little more expensive, but has a variety of healing herbs and essential oils that are also beneficial for scars and skin. Additionally, California Baby uses an organic mixture, and recommends it for all ages.
Products Labeled for Minimizing Scars
While the aloe products aren’t exclusively labeled for minimizing scars, there is a line of products intended for that purpose out there. Mederma, Kelo-Cote, and ScarAway appear to be among the best brands. Some products may vary depending on scar placement and severity. For example, some products are soothing while others are advanced. Some are marketed for cesarean section scars, while others are geared toward facial scars. Based on online sales and reviews, the top products of each brand include:
- Mederma Advanced Scar Gel is for scars of any kind. The manufacturer claims you need only use it once daily and that both new and old scars can be minimized. The active ingredient, Allantoin, is a natural skin conditioning agent. It may also encourage cell regeneration.
- Kelo-Cote Advanced Formula Scar Gel ranks among the highest products as well. It not only helps scars seem softer, but may help reduce raised areas as well. It is a combination of silicon dioxide and polysiloxanes, both of which are silicon compounds. Silicon is used in many ways medically, and among those is its ability to heal the skin.
- ScarAway Professional Grade Silicone Scar Sheets are also well received, but come a little differently than other products. Rather than a gel or a cream, scar sheets are more like big, thick band-aids made of medical grade silicone. You simply stick the sheet to your skin for at least 12 hours, before washing it off and reapplying it -- and they last for a week. ScarAway sheets work best on hypertrophic and keloid scars, both new and old.
