How a scar will eventually fade depends on a lot of things. Each person is unique and subsequently are his or her skin type, genetics, habits, health etc. These factors all influence how the result of scar treatment will be. Here’s a list of some scar treatment questions:



Will scars fade over time?
Yes the appearance of most scars will improve in time. Depending on the type of scar this takes about a year to two years. However in some cases
scars might become problematic. There’s always the risk of a scar becoming hypertrophic or keloid. These risks can be reduced, and these scars can ber
treated with silicone gel strips and ointments (link).



How long do scars stay red?
The redness is (partially) caused by blood flowing through the tissue. This indicates healing activity. Commonly scars stay red for several months but this varies from person to person.



Will my scar eventually go away?
No, scars will never disappear completely but some scars can improve to such an extent that they are hardly noticeable. This depends on the type of injury, location on the body, skin type, and other factors. (a scar on my cheek from a cut wound by a knife was surgically closed with 5 staples and now is virtually invisible.)



My scar itches, what can I do?
Check out this post on scar itch relief.



How should I treat my scar?
There are several things you can do. Check out the tips page for more info.



When can I start treating my scar?
As soon as the wound has closed but not before. However, proper wound care is an important factor in optimizing scar treatment. A well treated wound is far more likely to result in less scar tissue. A distinction should be made between wound and scar treatment.



Should I keep my scar out of the sun?
Yes it’s important to protect scars from sunlight radiation as long as they aren’t mature. Mature scars commonly are white, flat lines. Sun radiation will worsen the scar so protect it by wearing a sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher).



Should I use vitamin E oil e.g. from capsules on my scar?
Studies have shown the use of vitamin E on scars does not improve them. In fact in one third of the cases this caused the scars to worsen. That’s why many dermatologists and experts disencourage the use of vitamin E oil on scars.



Do Aloe Vera and Cocoa butter help my scar fade?
Many people consider these to be effective scar treatments but there’s no scientific evidence they add to an effective scar treatment. This misconception is probably fed by the fact that most scar improve automatically over time. This improvement is then described to the use of Aloe vera or Cocoa butter.



I can’t seem to find Neosporin Scar Solution, where can I buy it?
This product has been removed from the market and later on been reintroduced as ScarAway. ScarAway is sold by Wallgreens and online by Amazon and Drugstore.com.



Is it better to use silicone strips first before having laser or surgical treatment?
Yes it is recommended to make use of non-invasive treatments first. This because invasive treatments such as laser scar therapy, surgical scar
revision, and steroid injections include the risk of side effects which might worsen the scar, whereas the non-invasive treatments do not.



Wearing the silicone gel strips makes my scar and surrounding skin all soft, white, pruny, and wrinkled, like after taking a long bath. How is this possible?
This might have to do with the fact that some silicone scar strip brands are not breathable. This effect is called skin maceration and occurs when it is consistently wet. This is not desired because the skin can easily get infected with bacteria or fungi.

On my Squidoo lens on silicone scar treatment I regularly get questions from visitors. Check it out for more scar treatment questions and answers or ask your question below.