Recommendations for scar treatment products?

[grinningghost]

I'm looking for a really good product at reducing the appearance of scars. My neck and gallbladder surgeries have left me with scars that just look - ugh!

Anyone have suggestions?

 

[DawnCt1]

I know that Retin A works for stretch mark scars. Perhaps it would work on other types of scars too.

 

[grinningghost]

Thanks Dawn. I'll give that a shot. I haven't tried it yet.

 

[grlpwrd]

Mederma

www.mederma.com

 

[LBAK]

I used Mederma and the scar healed really well.

 

[grinningghost]

Mederma

www.mederma.com

That sounds good too.

 

[barkley]

dd's orthopedic surgeon advised that maderma was no better than putting most much less expensive lotions on scars. said scar apperance/healing is based on the skill of the person doing the stitching (and that's limited by incision location/type) plus the general skin type/tone a person has.

his advise with a new scar once initialy healed and in no danger of infection-keep clean, use extra sunscreen, apply lotion and wait.

i think alot depends on general skin tone and the age at which the scar occurs-i had a childhood friend who had open heart surgery and incured a scar from her navel to her colar bone-by age 18 there was a scar less than a half inch long and maybe an 1/8th inch wide-adults who have had less severe chest surgery have had massive scaring that changed not a bit for decades.

 

[grinningghost]

dd's orthopedic surgeon advised that maderma was no better than putting most much less expensive lotions on scars. said scar apperance/healing is based on the skill of the person doing the stitching (and that's limited by incision location/type) plus the general skin type/tone a person has.

his advise with a new scar once initialy healed and in no danger of infection-keep clean, use extra sunscreen, apply lotion and wait.

i think alot depends on general skin tone and the age at which the scar occurs-i had a childhood friend who had open heart surgery and incured a scar from her navel to her colar bone-by age 18 there was a scar less than a half inch long and maybe an 1/8th inch wide-adults who have had less severe chest surgery have had massive scaring that changed not a bit for decades.

Oh man - don't tell me that. I'm an old lady, I need hope.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Pure Vitamin E oil - every day twice a day.

 

[momrek06]

My DS was in a bad fire years ago. He was away at Boy Scout camp and accidently FELL into the camp fire....(can you just imagine that phone call to DH & I)!

He was severely burnt on his leg. That was exactly 8 years ago this month.

He is 24yo now and despite all those years and tons of creams later, the scar is still very noticeable.

I really do not think anything really works. DS' scar has faded a bit but still very much there but as the years have gone on, we never notice it anymore.

I will take his scarred leg any day any time as vs what could have happened to him.

 

[Alice's Mom]

Retin-A will reduce scarring, but will make your skin very sensitive to the sun (burn easier) and other side effects include dryness, redness and itchiness. It is not the most comfortable topical medication to use.

I think Neosporin and diligent use of sunscreen works very well too. I'm working on a pretty ugly scar on my shin right now from tripping on concrete stairs and its working pretty well. Keeping moisturized is key.

 

[grinningghost]

So, I'm gathering from the responses that exposure to the sun is bad for scars?

Does it make them worse? Or just keep them from ever getting better?

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I have found there is nothing better than MEDERMA. I have 2 large scars from a recent surgery that healed incredibly well. I used it failthfully once I was allowed and my scars are surprisingly fading! It costs around $25 for a 50 mg tube. Very worth it!

 

[grinningghost]

I have found there is nothing better than MEDERMA. I have 2 large scars from a recent surgery that healed incredibly well. I used it failthfully once I was allowed and my scars are surprisingly fading! It costs around $25 for a 50 mg tube. Very worth it!

I'm going with this reply. I gotta have some hope, no matter how small.

 

[DawnCt1]

So, I'm gathering from the responses that exposure to the sun is bad for scars?

Does it make them worse? Or just keep them from ever getting better?

Once the scar is fully healed, sun exposure won't matter. I had two small facial moles taken off a couple of years ago. I waited until October to avoid sun exposure. When they were healed enough, applied vitamen E (poked a hole in the capsule) and they faded. For older scars, I would go with the Retin A. You will build up a tolerance to the dryness from it and after all, its not going on your face so the side effects are tolerable. I use it every winter on my face to correct the damage that I do in the summer.

 

[hlbtimes2]

My dd7 just had 6 stitches above her eye a week ago, at the ER. Both the ER dr and her regular dr said mederma or vit E would help.