subject: Scar Treatment Scams And Gimmicks [print this page] Scars are an ugly reminder of painful things that happened in our past. Everyone has them. They're embarrassing, annoying, and very hard to get rid of. Many people go through their entire life living with their scars. Fortunately, they don't have to. The skin is a very flexible and adaptable organ. Through natural treatments and techniques, many skin ailments, including scars can be faded and removed. Unfortunately, there is a lot of information, and a lot of bad products out there that cannot do this. Many people are disappointed when an expensive scar cream or miracle remedy does nothing to reduce their scars. This is because a lot of the information out there is highly outdated and many of the products are nothing but snake oil or moisturizers.
Mederma for instance is the most popular scar treatment cream out right now. It's main ingredient is onion bulb extract. This ingredient was tested on a rabbits ear and improved scar formation in one study. Unfortunately, it has not done anything in any human studies. This product is not medically proven in any way and generally does not work on human skin. Any benefits seen from it are likely due to the daily massaging of the product into the skin. Massaging a scar frequently can help break up scar tissue and collagen and help flatten it out over time.
Aloe Vera is another common remedy that people rely on. While Aloe is indeed great for the skin, it has not shown to improve scarring in any medical studies. This is the base product of most skin lotions, and while it does help moisturize the skin, it does not help reduce scarring and scar tissue. It should be noted however, that keeping a scar moist over a long period of time can help reduce scarring. A combination of moisture and massage will help more than the Aloe itself. Also note that most lotions and products that contain Aloe Vera contain the processed version, which does not have the healing properties of real Aloe Vera. If you are going to use Aloe, get an Aloe Vera plant and crack the leaves open. This is pure Aloe, and will deliver better results than a store bought brand. It is also an antibacterial, which makes it great for burns.
Always beware of any scar treatment product which contains a lot of moisturizers and other mystery ingredients. Vitamin E is one of the most famous scar treatment remedies out there, despite the fact that it has not been proven in any medical trial. In fact, it has actually worsened scarring in many people due to an allergic reaction called contact dermatitis. Overall studies of Vitamin E on scars have been very negative and it generally should not be relied on as a scar treatment product. Also note that you may worsen your scar if you are one of the approximately 30% of people who will suffer from a negative reaction to it. Always do your research before applying any product to your skin.
