Over the Counter Scar Treatment

Scars are a natural way for the skin to heal a wound. Injuries to the skin such as a bite, cut, burn or acne lesions are considered wounds to the skin. The body forms scar tissue over all wounds. There are various types of scars because people heal at different rates and in different ways. Some people get depressed scars like pockmarks while others get raised, thick scars like keloids. Some people rarely scar while others scar so much they seek the services of a plastic surgeon to remove the scars. But for most people, over-the-counter treatments accelerate healing time and reduce the appearance of scars.

Vitamin E Oil

This is a safe and inexpensive product that can be found in drug stores. While many people recommend vitamin E oil to reduce or eliminate scars, there is little medical evidence that vitamin E oil is affective. One study at the University of Miami concluded that the oil has no affect on scars. But Joel Studin, a plastic surgeon, feels that the vitamin E breaks down the collagen fibers that form the scar tissue. He recommends vitamin E oil to his patients.

Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is another natural moisturizer. It is derived from the vegetable fat of the cocoa bean. The substance has been proven in studies to penetrate deeply into the skin's middle layer. Most moisturizers can't do this. For this reason cocoa butter is especially useful in treating stretch marks, which actually occur in the dermis or middle layer of the skin. Apply every day to scars.

Mederma

Of all the commercial scar removal products on the market, Mederma seems to be the most popular. Many people attest to the efficacy of this cream. Mederma is credited with reducing or removing a wide range of scars from acne discolorations to stretch markets to pockmark. A tube of Mederma costs $30 and can be found in most drug stores. Use Mederma twice a day for two months.

ScarGuard MD

ScarGuard is an expensive over-the-counter treatment for raised scars. This product has often been recommended by plastic surgeons to their patients mainly because it was developed by a plastic surgeon. The product costs $70 a tube, but unlike Mederma, it contains silicone, cortisone and vitamin E. According to the ScarGuard website, many doctors feel that silicone is the only effective treatment for scar removal. Use the product twice a day for two to four months for best results.

Silicone Sheets

Silicone sheets are large pieces of silicone with an adhesive back. After cutting the sheet to fit the size of the wound, attach it to cover the scar. The adhesive keeps the silicone firmly in place. The pressure of the silicone around the scar reduces the size of the scar. The Beauty Brains website writes that "dermatologists do seem to agree that you can reduce the severity of scars by covering the healing wound with silicone." Many silicone sheets are on the market including Scar Fx Silicone Sheet and ReJuveness,

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