Reducing the visibility of a scar?

[JQ]

I acquired some stitches in my face at the weekend and am obviously quite keen to reduce any potential scarring. Does anyone have any recommendations for cream that will help? Google seems to throw up lots of self promoting articles, so am keen to get some non biased opinions if possible.

Cheers

[J1JPE]

Working for the World's Largest, Pharmacy Led Health & Beauty Retailer, we get this question quite often from sportspeople, mums etc and they best product by far is Bio-Oil; it's on offer at the moment too.

http://www.boots.com/en/Bio-Oil-60ml-for-scars-str...

Other sizes and products are available

[knk]

Strong sunblock to avoid fixing the redness in the scar.
Silicone sheets have some good evidence behind them as does the gel. Dermatix or scarsil.

Bio-oil and so on have no proven benefit in large studies.

[randlemarcus]

J1JPE said:

Working for the World's Largest, Pharmacy Led Health & Beauty Retailer, we get this question quite often from sportspeople, mums etc and they best product by far is Bio-Oil; it's on offer at the moment too.

http://www.boots.com/en/Bio-Oil-60ml-for-scars-str...

Other sizes and products are available

Please tell me that's a cut and paste from their website, not you actually talking

[Digger]

As above Bio Oil.

Stopped using it for no particular reason on my recently acquired hernia scars and now use arnica cream instead.

Needless to say no point in using these until the stitches have been removed or dissolved and the wound has healed, ie scabless and dry etc.

Also read up on scar massage. I've been massaging my scars quite hard every other application of the arnica cream.

[WinstonWolf]

It's not so much the bio-oil as the action of rolling the scar. Gently massage/roll it once the initial healing is over to break down the adhesions. Time is the best healer, eventually it will blend in to the surrounding skin but it'll take a couple of years.

[JQ]

knk said:

Strong sunblock to avoid fixing the redness in the scar.
Silicone sheets have some good evidence behind them as does the gel. Dermatix or scarsil.

Bio-oil and so on have no proven benefit in large studies.

Cheers. Is it sun cream and Dermatix, or just one or the other?

[Autopilot]

See how all the above advice pans out and see what you're left with. If it's not good enough it may be worth looking in to laser scar reduction treatments

[C0ffin D0dger]

“bones heal, pain is temporary, and chicks dig scars...”

Though I'm assuming the OP is male

[anonymous-user]

I tried bio oil, and it didn't work for me as it is actually an oil (funnily enough) so I couldn't find opportunities to use it without either staining clothes, or bed linen.

[Sticks.]

I was recommended Nivea by the nurses, although it was some time ago so perhaps here are better products now. You'll be surprised how much they fade over time.

[SlidingSideways]

C0ffin D0dger said:

“chicks dig scars...”

That was my attitude. Turns out they dig them less when it looks like you've had a lobotomy though

I did pretty much nothing to mine and it's faded quite nicely now. It's only really noticeable if the light catches it.

[Podie]

I have quite a few scars from various knee ops over the years.

The bio oil ones are slightly better, but they do appear a bit more obvious if you catch the sun.

In my experience, what you have after 18 months is what you will have for the rest of your days.

[Sticks.]

SlidingSideways said:

That was my attitude. Turns out they dig them less when it looks like you've had a lobotomy though

I wondered what it was. Worse still is when they look past you for your carer

[covmutley]

WinstonWolf said:

It's not so much the bio-oil as the action of rolling the scar. Gently massage/roll it once the initial healing is over to break down the adhesions. Time is the best healer, eventually it will blend in to the surrounding skin but it'll take a couple of years.

This is what a doc to,d me when I had a mole removed. He said olive oil would be just as effective and a whole load cheaper.

[Lotus Notes]

Digger said:

Also read up on scar massage. I've been massaging my scars quite hard every other application of the arnica cream.

This^^ got to break down the scar tissue!