InviCible Scars is a silicone gel based product which makes it interesting to review since silicones are clinically proven to improve scar appearance. InviCible Scars is designed to improve the appearance of various types of scars and claims to also help fade brown spots and other dark skin marks.

This cream is developed by a reconstructive plastic surgeon (Dr. Chrysopoulo) and is formulated of clinically tested ingredients. I have no personal experience with this product (contrary to silicone sheeting) but I do think this cream is one of the most effective scar treatment creams available because of its ingredients. What makes this product unique is the combination of stable vitamin C, silicones, and a combination of peptides and other substances named the ProBiosyn-4 complex.

Studies show that vitamin C, as well as the substances present in the so called ProBiosyn-4 complex help scars heal. Vitamin C promotes collagen synthesis, protection from sun damage, and lightening of pigmented skin lesions. It also reduces scar redness and is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. On top of that it has a positive effect on collagen synthesis in scar tissue.

The product is backed up by credible medical professionals. Several, reputable plastic surgeons and dermatologists recommend this product because of its effectiveness in skin treatment and the quality of its contents.

Invicible Scars © is claimed to fade acne marks, burns, dark spots, scars, eye circles, melisma, or birthmarks. The non-greasy silky cream is easily be applied on the skin, giving the user a soothing sensation that’s mess-free. The cream goes on comfortably without powder.

The cream is guaranteed to have satisfactory results; it only takes a few weeks for the users to see the difference. Invicible is friendly to the skin because it is hypoallergenic and it does not contain any excess ingredients such as preservatives, fragrance, hydroquinone, mineral oil, or alcohol. Unlike many of Invicible’s competitors, its website provides in-depth clinical studies that support their claims.

Histology studies as well as the satisfactory rate of customer results indicate that Invicible Scars works. The before-and-after photos on the website show its remarkable results. The manufacturer offers a 30-day free trial.

InviCible’s Ingredients include;

• Dual Complex Vitamin C
• Dimethicone Silicone Gel
• Probiosyn-4 Natural Scar Treatment Complex:
• Aloe Vera
• Linoleic and Oleic Acids
• Licorice (Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate)

Do you have questions concerning this InviCible Scar treatment review? Don’t hesistate to drop your comment below.

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ScarAway, the creator of high quality silicone scar sheets has recently launched a new product.

It’s a Silicone Gel Scar Diminishing Serum Massaging Applicator. Since both silicones, and in lesser extent, massage are proven effective scar treatments this product combines two effective modalities.

The gentle massaging rollers will probably add to fading the scars but I suspect, for that to happen they need to be used regularly for a certain period of time.

Let’s hope the sensation of the rollers is pleasant so that it may actually be a useful addition to the relatively small pool of effective OTC scar products.

The new product is available on Amazon

Product Description

ScarAway 100% silicone gel serum with gentle massaging applicator is ideal for easy and convenient use on scars on any part of the body, even on scars on exposed or hard-to-treat areas such as: Face, Ears Neck, Scalp, Arms, Hands and Joint Areas. ScarAway is a concentrated 100% Silicone Gel Formulation for optimal results, and does not contain any inferior ingredients or fillers.

Topical Silicone is clinically proven to help reduce and prevent scars. ScarAway works on newly healed woulds and visible older scars. Even scars that are years old and appear raised and discolored can become flatter, smoother, and less visible, closer to your skin’s natural texture and color. Our new massaging applicator harnesses the power of not 1 but 2 Scar fighters, silicone AND massage, in one easy to use product.

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If there is an all-natural, herbal scar reducing cream that may actually work I guess it must be Quantum Derma’s cream. Reason? Because it does contain some promising ingredients. This cream is said to reduce the appearance of both new and old scars and contains a wide range of natural, healing ingredients.

Let’s review this product by examining its components.

Quantum Derma Scar Reducing Cream contains various herbal ingredients. Some are commonly thought to improve scars but are not backed by science (onion extract). A few of them are interesting and promising though.

Ingredients:

• Onion Extract,
• Lysine,
• Vitamin E,
• Tamanu Oil,
• Allantoin

Tamanu oil (Calophyllum inophyllum) for example. This aromatic oil is also referred to as “green gold” or “sacred oil of Tamanu”. It is said to be able to penetrate all skin layers.

Tamanu oil heals damaged skin, alleviates various medical conditions, and is known for its skin smoothing and softening properties. Revered by ancient Polynesians, the oil was historically used for its medicinal and wound healing properties. More on wisegeek.com .

Lysine is an amino acid that plays a role in building healthy tissue.

Allantoin has a positive effect on the skin’s moisture levels. Also has a keratolytic (deflaking) effect and stimulates the production of new epidermis cells, stimulates skin regeneration, rendering it smoother and softer. Clinical studies indicate it helped prevent and reduce scarring during tattoo removals.

Vitamin A (Retinyl palmitate is the safest form of the various types of vitamin A with the best tolerance, fewest side effects, and no prescription needed More on the role of vitamin A in scar treatment.

Bee propolis extract is reported to help scars heal. Especially acne sufferers seem to benefit from this substance according to some testimonials. Indirectly related to this subject is this post about scar treatment with bee venom .

Additional ingredients include:
Olive Oil, Beeswax, Aloe Vera Gel, Purified Water, Tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E), Chamomile extract, Sweet Almond Oil, Gum Benzoin extract, Calendula extract, Bee Propolis extract, Golden Seal Root extract, Onion extract, Echinacea extract, Bisabalol (a chamomile extract), Cajeput Oil, Tea Tree oil, Vitamin E, Retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) , Vitamins A & D

A few of the ingredients of this cream appear to be promising because of their separate properties. They may provide a synergistic effect but studies should be done to proof this. When it comes to an all-natural scar cream I personally would like to see a scar cream containing Centella asiatica and liquorice. This because these substances appear to have some scar improving evidence behind them.

According to one reviewer on Amazon “this product works but has funny smell maybe because it is natural product and it is pricey for small tube.”

The manufacturer states that Quantum Derma Scar Reducing Cream:

• Significantly improves the appearance and reduces visibility of existing scars resulting from surgery, burns, injury and acne,
• helps prevent the formation of scars on newly healed wounds,
• makes scar tissue, calluses, and other skin hardenings softer and smoother,
• is also advertised to be effective on stretch marks.

Suggested Use: Massage into scar 3 5 times daily to smooth, soften and diminish appearance of scars.

Quantum Scar Reducing Cream is available on Amazon.

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Neaclear Scar Advantage is a product I hadn’t heard of before (although it has been around for a while). Just yesterday I stumbled upon it when reading articles written by cosmetic and plastic surgeons. One of these health care practitioners recommended this cream for facial scars.

To me this doesn’t necessarily mean it is a good product because even among medical experts such as plastic surgeons and dermatologists ignorance occurs. I always like to dig for scientific reports and other indications products may actually work. Let’s have a closer look at Neaclear. Is it really as innovative and revolutionary as they say?

It is said to promote optimal scar healing with ingredients such as;

• cortisone,
• vitamin E,
• silicones,
• vitamins A & D,
• liquid oxygen,
• and vitamin C.

Let’s take a look at the respective actions of these components:

• topical cortisones reduce irritation (used in anti-itch creams) This study concludes there’s no benefit to the scar’s appearance. As there is none for vitamin E
• silicones are proven effective to decrease collagen formation and increase the scar’s maturation process.
• vitamins A (retinoids) has shown to have both benefits as side effects. No sufficient research data available for firm conclusions
• vitamin C seems to have scar healing benefits but stability is needed. It’s difficult to control whether or not Scar Advantage contains such a stable form of vitamin C.
• liquid oxygen



About the addition of liquid oxygen (whatever that may be) has been some rumor. New Scientist notes that “We have certainly never heard of a skin cream that contains liquid oxygen, the temperature of which is normally somewhere below -183 °C.” There has been a discussion on museumofhoaxes.com. Neaclear’s reaction:

the oxygenation is a special 4 step process that enables us to place oxygen into a stable liquid form. liquid oxygen normally exists only at the extremely low temperature of -183 degrees Celsius under normal atmospheric pressure. liquid oxygen in it’s purest form is highly combustible and basically “rocket fuel”.

NO, we do not have rocket fuel (pure liquid oxygen) in our products. please realize the oxygen concentration in our skin care products is not a large amount, definitely less than 5%. again, we always recommend not placing these products close to any sources of fire or anything flammable (a good piece of advice with any skin care products).



One more thing. I know this sounds rather cocky but I’m not convinced the action behind the product is pressure like stated on the Neaclear website. Yes, indeed, pressure (compression) has a beneficial effect on scar healing. Therefore it has been used since the 1960 in the treatment of burn and other scars. But how much pressure does a thin film apply? I have read lots of clinical reports and study abstracts and I am convinced to belief it is occlusion what makes that such products work.



Occlusion by silicone gels and sheets is thought to restore the water balance in the scar tissue thus preventing dehydration and excessive scar tissue. More on this in my post titled; how do silicones for scars work.



Neaclear Scar Advantage can be used on scars of all types – new or existing, traumatic or surgical. Whether or not it really works remains unclear. To me it seems comparable with other scar creams with roughly the same ingredients. The only difference is the addition of the mysterious liquid oxygen.



Have you used Neaclear Liquid Oxygen Scar Advantage? I would love to hear about your experiences. You can drop a comment below or contact me via the contact page.

Note: in order to avoid confusion, there are two Neaclear scar products on Amazon. Both with the same name but with other ingredients. The other product has chamomile and some other components in it.














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I was recently informed about a new scar product called Revitol Scar Removal Cream and I was wondering if it really works.


I have no personal experience with it nor could I find any trustworthy user reviews online. So if anyone has used this product, I would love to hear your experiences.

According to the Revitol Scar Cream website this product removes the appearance of acne scars, burns, cuts, gashes and surgical scars.

It is also mentioned that this product exclusively contains natural ingredients. If I’m understanding correctly it contains mostly proteins and vitamins.

This new product is said to enhance the skin’s regenerative abilities in a safe and effective way. The formula helps combat the causes of scarring and heals and fortifies skin.

I’m usually an advocate of silicone based products because these have scientific evidence behind them. But since medical science evolves, and not all components and products have been fully examined and researched there could always be products that work, although not (yet) confirmed by science.

What does makes me frown upon is the fact that the active ingredients aren’t mentioned. On the other hand, they do have a money back guarantee. If you are considering to purchase this product make sure to read the policy details on the bottom right side of the page.

We believe in offering the very best value, quality and selection to our customers. You may return any unused and unopened item purchased from us for any reason within Ninety (90) days of your purchase

Did you try Revitol Scar Cream? And did it work for you? Or maybe not? Please let me know so others can benefit from your experiences. Your feedback will be highly appreciated.

More information on their website.

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Laser Fade scar gel is actually roughly the same product as ScarFade. The difference is that Laserfade gel contains additional ingredients such as Vitamin K, Vitamin E, and Co-Enzyme Q-10.

These additional ingredients, some of which antioxidants, are thought to reduce damage to freshly lasered skin caused by ultraviolet sun damage, air pollution and other environmental factors. Laserfade also contains micronized zinc oxide for protection from the sun. It protects against both UVA / UVB rays and has SPF15.

Laserfade is advertised as being especially suitable for the treatment of post laser surgery redness (erythema) and scars. It is said to create a soothing micro-membrane which calms inflamed capillaries (tiny blood vessels). It is formulated to be used after freshly lasered skin is completely healed.

Ingredients:
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide
Other Ingredients: Dimethypolysiloxane, Cyclomethicone, Phytoniadone (Vitamin K-1), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Co-Enzyme Q10.

Some reviewers stated that:

It does not absorb quickly, but you can wear it at night or under makeup.

The product name says gel but it is more like a lotion. It is very greasy. You would expect a gel to be lightweight and absorb easily but this does not.

Made my 4 inches scar on my neck less obvious. After using this product for 3 months it reduced the redness and fade the scar to my skin color.

More reviews here on SkinStore.com

Laserfade gel is available at Makemeheal for $25 and for $26 on Amazon.

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A few studies have demonstrated that topical retinoic acid (the strongest form of vitamin A) has beneficial effects on scar appearance. However, because of the, sometimes serious, possible side effects associated with this type of treatment its use is disencouraged by professionals in the health care sector.

But what about its less strong, thus less risky, sisters retinol and retinyl palmitate?

“In vitro studies demonstrated that collagen synthesis * could be markedly reduced in cultures treated with retinoid acid and its derivates.” [1]

* collagen synthesis plays a role in excessive scar tissue creation.

‘Its derivates’ are retinyl palmitate and retinol which are less strong forms of vitamin A associated with less side effects. For more clarity:

• retinyl palmitate – safest form, best tolerance, fewest side effects, no prescription needed
• retinol, stronger so more likely to cause reactions and is not suited to all skin types.’
• Retinoic acid is the active form of retinol, with prescription only

Since the researchers concluded that its derivates also reduce collagen synthesis retinol and retinyl palmitate creams may help in the treatment of scars.

An interesting NY Times article titled; ‘The Thing About Retin-A: It Works‘, provides some additional insights.

For example: “Retinol, a less potent form of Retin-A, also has some strong science to support its effectiveness.”

“[..] consistent use of Retin-A helps normalize the cells,” said Dr. Min-Wei Christine Lee, a dermatologist in Walnut Creek, Calif.”

“Retin-A can improve skin texture and fade dark spots and freckles because it causes skin cells to turn over more rapidly. It shrinks dilated pores and improves cell turnover within the pores so they are less likely to clog and become blackheads and whiteheads.”

So in conclusion, retinol may have clinical support behind its efficacy but I haven’t found yet what it exactly does for scars. I’m wondering if anyone has used retinol creams on their raised, red scars? And if so, what did it do for you? (A close look at the sense and nonsense of retinol creams in acne scar treatment will follow.)

Read more on the benefits and potential side effects of topical retinoic acid on scars.

[1] Sense and Nonsense of Scar Creams and Gels Cees J. M. van den Helder, M.D., and J. Joris Hage, M.D., Ph.D. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Vitamin A comes in several forms. The strongest is called retinoic acid which, because of its strength, may cause adverse reactions. Therefore, this active form of retinol is not suited to all skin types. Retinoic acid creams are only available with prescription from a doctor or dermatologist. Because of its potency it’s classed as a pharmaceutical and not a beauty product.

Retinoic acid is not a new product. It has been clinically tested and is used in skin care for almost three decades. Some of these studies, instigated by the observation that oral vitamin A improved the appearance of keloid scars, have examined the effects of the topical use of this potent vitamin A on scars.

Conclusion of examining these reports is that the use of topical retinoic acid on scars, although seemingly effective, is not recommended. This because of potential side effects.

One study report is titled: Reduction of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars Following Systemic Administration of Vitamin A:

[..] examined the effect of a topically applied 0.05% solution of retinoic acid on keloids and hypertrophic scars. [..] Slight to marked reduction of the size of these scars and a decrease of complaints such as itching were noted in the majority of the cases.

In addition, Hansen reported a 75% subjective and objective improvement in scars as old as three years old treated with a 0.05% topical retinoic acid. This improvement meant softening and flattening of hypertrophy and fading of the scar’s color once the effects of the acid had worn off.

In his series, vertical scars on the abdomen and those across the lines of minimum tension elsewhere on the body showed the most dramatic improvement. Areas that did not seem to respond well were the breast, chin, and jawline.

Another report by Daly et al. [2] presented the results of a randomized, double-blind, prospective study on the effects of topically applied vitamin A:

A statistically significant difference (20% reduction in scar size) was noted between the group treated with 0.05% retinoic acid and the control group treated with the base cream.

In the retinoid-treated group, lesion size was reduced by approximately 20%. Daly and coworkers concluded that the clinical effects of retinoids had been demonstrated to be consistent with the in vitro data.

Side Effects
In some case scarring actually was the result of inappropriate use of 0.05% retinoid gel. Gels seem to provoke skin irritation more often than retinoin creams [3].

Topical retinoids may be absorbed in the body. Therefore it may cause side effects due to excessive vitamin A (specifically retinoid) intake (hypervitaminosis). Especially for those who take vitamin supplements.

Another possible side effect is damage to unborn children (teratogenicity). So pregnant women should steer clear of retinoic acid.

Because of these possible complications and the absence of sufficient research data some experts do not recommend the use of topical retinoic acid on scars.

Conclusion
I would personally opt for silicones because these have no side effects. In case silicone sheeting doesn’t catch on I would possibly consult my doctor about retinoic acid treatment for scars. Although I think steroid injections would be a more appropriate next step.

Maybe prolonged use of an retinyl palmitate or retinol cream could help fade scars. Since these creams are rather safe to use and easy to obtain (I would advice to always start moderately with new skin care products to monitor the results) such creams may offer a valuable addition in case other treatments don’t work.

Read more about the topical use of retinol creams on scars.

[1] Janssen de Limpens AMP: The local treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids with topical retinoic acid. Br J Dermatol 103:319, 1980

[2] Daly T, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled efficacy study of tretinoin cream 0.05% in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars. J Invest Dermatol 1986;86:470.

[3] Hogan DJ: Scarring following inappropriate use of 0.05% tretoin gel. J Am Acad Dermatol 17:1056, 1987

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ScarGuard MD ScarCare is a silicone* based cream that dries to a thin film after application. Scarguard Labs (the manufacturer) states that:

“many doctors use ScarGuard MD for old, raised scars, keloids, and to help prevent scar tissue from forming after surgery or injury.”

* (Silicone scar creams are used to flatten, soften, tone down the color, and smoothen thick scars. They are also known to reduce scar pain and itch. )

So does ScarGuard really work? Here’s a short review with the pros and cons of ScarGuard MD.

Scarguard MD differs from other silicone scar creams in that it combines several ingredients. Or, as the manufacturer advertises: “a patented formulation that combines multiple technologies.” Also referred to as “SG5 technology which combines five medically-proven treatments into one easy-to-use solution”. These treatments are:

1)Silicone. Topical silicone is clinically proven to help shrink scar tissue and help prevent new scar formation after surgery.
2)Cortisone. A low dose of hydrocortisone helps reduce irritation.
3)Vitamin E. Helps the healing process by softening and moisturizing the scar and surrounding tissue.
4)Pressure. Slight increase in surface tension is provided.
5)Occlusion. The medical term for adhering to, and protecting, the scar.

A critical note on these five proclaimed medically proven treatments:

Occlusion, especially by silicones, does seem to be effective in scar treatment. However the amount of pressure a silicone sheet, let alone a silicone cream administers is negligible. Vitamin E used as a standalone topical treatment is discouraged by dermatologists because it may cause skin irritation and worsen scar appearance. The benefits of vitamin E as a scar cream component are disputed.

Let’s take a look at the other Scarguard Scar Care ingredients.

Active ingredients: Silicone 12.75%, Hydrocortisone 0.55%, Inactive ingredients: Vitamin E, Specially-formulated flexible collodion.

Collodion is a flexible substance which dries to form a flexible cellulose film when applied on the skin.

Hydrocortisone (or cortisol) is a is a steroid hormone naturally occurring in the human body. It’s function here is to reduce itch. Hydrocortisone is also used in anti itch creams. As most over-the-counter anti itch creams ScarGuard MD also contains less than 1% of this component.

I don’t grasp the reason of the addition of collodion (instead of using silicones).

I’m also wondering why hydrocortisone was added to the formula since silicones have proven to reduce itch themselves. This seems redundant to me. It may be that the limited amount of people who experience skin irritation during the use of silicone creams benefit from using a product that contains hydrocortisone.



I haven’t used this product myself so I can’t speak from experience. So let’s take a look at ScarGuard MD reviews. An analysis of various reviews from different sources yielded the following:

ScarGuard MD Pros

• almost invisible
• dries fast
• easy to apply
• possible to apply makeup on top of the film
• cheaper than the popular Kelo-cote Advanced Formula Scar Gel and ScarAway Silicone Gel Serum

ScarGuard MD Cons

• doesn’t last, may flake, peels off
• looks like paper on your skin very thin, white, translucent paper film
• bad scent, smells like acetone or nail polish remover (smell fades quickly)
• doesn’t seem to work on old scars

My Conclusion:
Since there’s far less silicones in ScarGuard than in some other silicone creams I would personally choose a brand that does contain silicones only. (e.g. ScarAway or Kelo-cote )

However, because of the addition of hydrocortisone ScarGuard might be ideal for people with a very sensitive skin who are prone to sweat rash or other skin irritations.

Alternatives
From the various silicone scar cream brands such as Dermatix, ScarZone, Derma E, ScarFade, Rejuvasil, ScarAway, and Kelo-cote I would choose one of the two latter.

I would order one of these because they contain more (only) silicones. For the best results I would certainly recommend to use them in combination with the clinically proven more effective silicone sheeting. Studies demonstrate that the occlusion is a major component in the effectiveness of these silicone products. The fact that the creams are much easier to apply and wear makes them ideal for particular situations and body locations.

More clinical ScarGuard info in this study report: Efficacy of Scarguard in the Prevention of Scars

Conclusion of this study: “Both patients and investigator noted improved aesthetic effects with Scarguard on the appearance of scars following a minor surgical procedure. [..] study observations were determined in a small group of patients in a nonblinded fashion, further investigation is warranted to confirm these results.”

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Do your scars itch? This post is about why scars itch and how to get some scar itch relief.

Fresh scars tend to itch more often but also older scars, especially surgery scars, may itch. Even scars that are years old can be itchy. Many people describe the feeling as itchy and numb at the same time. In most fresh scars the itchiness will fade away with time.

Scar Itch Causes

The itch is part of the healing (maturation) process. New tissue is created, nerve endings are stimulated, and other nerves have been disconnected which may cause the numb sensation.

The blood circulation is affected and overlapping scar tissue being stretched may also cause itchiness or sometimes a burning feeling. (e.g. in case of c-section scars during a new pregnancy) Some people experience a burning sensation followed by itch after stretching their scar full out.

Causes of scars itching are the aforementioned healing process, the scar drying out, the nerves being damaged and disconnected, collagen reacting and moving, and skin irritation as a result of (surgical) tape or other topical applications used.

Scar Itch Relief

Make sure to avoid scratching your scar whenever possible. It might damage the tissue especially when the scar is young and the tissue still thin and delicate. Damage caused by scratching will worsen scar appearance and may cause infection (which will also worsen appearance).

This is just theorizing but I think whether or not you can treat the itchiness depends on where the itch is exactly located. Is it superficial, on the scar itself, the skin so to say? Or is the itch deeper, probably caused by nerves and/or collagen turning over. If it’s the latter I guess there’s nothing much you can do about it except for maybe massaging.

• Massage A good massage therapist will be able to loosen up the scar tissue thus effectuating less tension and friction. This way the scar tissue is under less physical stress which will lead to less burn or itch. When massaging your own scars keep in mind that fresh scar tissue is relatively thin and fragile so massaging should be done very gently.
• Moisturizing Scars tend to dry out a bit because the skin’s ability to hydrate itself has been affected. That’s why moisturizing the tissue regularly may offer relief by diminishing itch.
• Anti-itch creams I haven’t used any anti-itch creams on my scars myself because I used silicone gel sheets and ointments (more on this in a bit) but here are a few popular creams that are reported to offer scar itch relief. Benadryl is a so called antihistamine cream. Prolonged use of such creams is said to possibly result in the development of an allergy to the active ingredient (Benadryl) Other itch relief creams are topical anesthetics such as lidocaine and benzocaine. These have shown to cause skin irritation in some cases. Therefore the best anti-itch creams are the topical steroids such as hydrocortisone cream. Examples of commonly used and well reviewed hydrocortisone creams are Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream and Member’s Mark Hydrocortisone Cream Apart from these there’s a skin spray called ThermaSkin Itch Blocker that uses hot pepper extract (capsaicin) to stop itching.
• Silicones There are several topical silicone gel brands such as Dermatix, Kelocote, Zeraderm, and ScarAway. These silicone ointments do not only offer relief from itch and pain they will also reduce redness, prevent problematic scars from developing, and flatten and soften excessive scar tissue.

  For me these silicone creams (and sheets) were a godsend because apart from the occasional itch some of my scars really felt uncomfortably sensitive so each contact with clothing or e.g. a seat belt made me shiver.

Do you have any questions or comments on scar itch relief? Don’t hesitate to share your opinion below.














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