Scientific studies have found out there are roughly 5 aspects that are known and proven to influence scar treatment in a positive way:

1. Proper Wound Care
2. Hydration
3. Warmth
4. Massage
5. Covering Scars (occlusion)

Here are some tips focused on influencing these factors in such a way to accomplish an optimal scar treatment plan.

Wound care
Optimal scar treatment starts with proper wound care. A smoothly and quickly healing wound is least likely to develop an ugly scar. Inflammation and crusting slow down the wound healing process thus stimulate scarring. A moist, sterile wound healing environment, realized by keeping wounds covered, has shown to be advantageous.
Covering wounds also reduces tension on the wound edges resulting in less wide scars.
Tip: prevent inflammation and crusting by covering wounds and keeping them moist and clean. Learn more here: products.

Hydration
Injured skin has an inclination of losing water more quickly. Scar hydration for extended periods of time appears to improve the appearance of scar tissue. Several clinical trials and reviews have demonstrated this. Hydration is thought to decrease the tissue’s water loss and restore the stability regulating (homeostatic) process in scars.

“We have found that the provision of support and hydration and especially in addition with an enhanced wound healing constituent acts together to provide surprisingly improved scar management and maturation” source: patentstorm.us
Learn more on moisturizing scars here.

Warmth
Scar tissue is a result of the skin creating collagen fibers to close the wound. In some cases excessive collagen is produced. This is when we speak of hypertrophic and keloid scars. An enzyme called collagenase breaks down collagen. The creation of this enzym is induced by higher temperatures so warmth reduces scar tissue development. Researchers have found out that an increased temperature, even by 1°C, will significantly increase collagenase production.
Tip: Keep scars warm. Learn more here: products.

Massage
Gently massaging scars and exercising regularly results in an increased blood flow in the tissue. The subsequent increased oxygen supply is thought to lead to an improved skin tone. Because tension on the scar (and wound) is what also appears to be a major factor in scarring overstretching or too rigorously massaging scars should be avoided at all times. Scar massage also helps keeping the scar tissue supple.
Tip: carefully implemented scar massage can be beneficial. Only start with scar massage after the wound has closed completely.

Covering scars
Covering up scars, also called occlusion, minimizes the tension on scar tissue. The most common scar covering therapies are pressure garments, silicone sheeting, polyurethane and hydrogel dressings. Of all these scar covering methods silicones are the most effective. Research suggests certain elements present in some silicone scar management product mimic the natural barrier function of normal, healthy skin. This is thought to increase hydration, soften scar tissue, reducing excessive creation of scar tissue.

Tip: use silicone gel sheets to cover scars. More info on these sheets here: silicone scar treatment.