Topical Medication Dermatologists frequently turn to topical medications to help lighten and brighten the skin. Among topical medications, hydroquinone is one of the most reliable creams used to reduce the visibility of dark scars and produce an even skin tone for the rest of the skin.
Or your healthcare provider may recommend applying corticosteroid cream or a silicone gel sheet to the area. If you have dark skin, ask your provider about using a skin-lightening cream with hydroquinone to lighten scars.
Many scars fade over time, and though there are no treatments to make scars disappear entirely, there are medical treatments and home remedies that may help reduce their appearance, depending on the type of scar.
A scar is a mark on the skin after a wound or injury has healed. You cannot get rid of a scar, but most will fade over time. This can take up to 2 years or more, but there are some things you can do to help it heal or improve how it looks.
Scar discoloration is primarily caused by: Increased Melanin Production: In response to inflammation and injury, the skin produces more melanin, leading to hyperpigmentation (Nautiyal & Wairkar, 2021). Vascular Changes: Increased blood flow and vessel formation contribute to erythematous scars (Fitzpatrick, 1994).
For best results, you should perform scar massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You should only stop sooner than that if the scar starts showing signs of infection or you experience intolerable discomfort.
Vitamin C is great for helping to minimize the discoloration that is often caused by scarring. Silicone scar gels and strips help to reduce the noticeability of scars that are on the body and by doing this they are working with the discoloration of your skin where there is a scar.
Some people find that topical retinol lightens their skin spots, though it takes months and can be irritating to your skin. It's a good idea to see a dermatologist (a medical doctor who specializes in conditions of the skin) if you're concerned about dark spots.
Depending on the scar type, scars can take up to two years to fade naturally. After the two-year mark, it's unlikely your scar will fade anymore. Scarring is a natural part of the healing process following tissue damage. Most wounds cause the skin tissue to break, releasing collagen.
Using peachy/orangey shades should help. Brown is blue based so you'd need an orange tone to correct it. Depending on how dark or light they are is how you figure what shade of orange you need. The darker the mark, the more orange you need.
Massage is a way of softening and flattening scars and reducing the adhesions between the different layers of the tissue, making the scar tissue more flexible.
Some people use certain essential oils — such as Helichrysum, lavender, or tea tree oils — on the skin to promote wound healing and reduce the appearance of scars.
Immediately following wound healing, a scar is usually red in appearance and is referred to as an 'immature' scar. Between 3 months and 2 years the scar should become paler, flatter and softer and can then be referred to as a 'mature' scar.
Topical Medication
Dermatologists frequently turn to topical medications to help lighten and brighten the skin. Among topical medications, hydroquinone is one of the most reliable creams used to reduce the visibility of dark scars and produce an even skin tone for the rest of the skin.
Atrophic scars are the opposite of hypertrophic scars. They are depressed, sunken and often have a pitted appearance.
For non-raised scars, surgery may be an option used to alter a scar's shape to make it less noticeable. Dermabrasion, microneedling, and laser resurfacing can help to make scars 'blend in'. Lastly, fillers can be effective to help raise sunken scars. These treatments are only temporary and would need to be repeated.
Mederma: Although it is often recommended by physicians, this scar gel, which contains an onion extract, has no solid scientific evidence to support its use. Vitamin E: Although it is commonly used in anti-scarring products, clinical studies are disappointing.
Vitamin C aids in the brightening process by priming the skin cells and making them more susceptible to the effects of Glutathione. Additionally, research suggests that Vitamin C itself may possess some brightening properties.