In the battle between silicone gel and Vaseline for scar treatment, silicone gel emerges as the clear winner. Its clinically proven benefits in improving scar characteristics, maintaining hydration, and reducing abnormal collagen deposition make it the preferred choice for both patients and healthcare providers.
Use Vaseline® Jelly for Scars
By sealing in moisture it also helps to reduce dryness of scarred skin, once your skin has healed. This may help to improve the appearance of scars, making the skin look smoother and softer, as well as help to reduce itchiness caused by dryness.
Use silicone products
Silicone products, such as silicone sheets and gels, can keep your scar moisturized and help it heal. You can use them under your makeup and clothing.
Furthermore, silicone gel sheets have been shown to significantly improve the size and appearance of scars and the scar elevation index (SEI), which measures the height of the scar tissue as compared to the surrounding skin.
The timing of silicone scar sheet use can affect its efficacy, but it is generally never too late to start using them. While the best results are often seen when treatment begins shortly after wound closure or the formation of a scar, established scars can also show improvement.
Silicone may hydrate the scar tissue and reduce the production of collagen fibres (see scar massage information sheet). It has also been shown to reduce redness and to make the scar flatter, softer and paler.
Nevertheless, many important disadvantages due to excessive occlusion such as difficulties in applying the sheets exceeding 10–12 h, pruritus, irritation, and maceration of the skin are limiting factors for its use.
Some common self-help treatments include: Silicone gel: Silicone sheets or ointment are used after the wound closes to prevent or reduce a raised scar. The self-adhesive sheets need to be worn every day, all day, usually for several months or longer.
Use recommended products: Silicone strips, Arnica gel, medications, and supplements are among the products that may be recommended to speed up your healing process and soften your scars. 5. Avoid sun exposure: The delicate new skin that is forming as your incisions heal is particularly vulnerable to sun damage.
This will help keep the wound moist and allow it to heal faster with less scarring. Continue applying the petroleum jelly until the wound has fully healed. Open wounds heal more slowly. A large wound can take 4 weeks or more to heal.
Sugar can also worsen scar tissue formation, such as hypertrophic or keloid scars. Avoid hidden sugars in processed foods, soft drinks, and sweets. Nitrates found in processed meats like bacon, salami, and hot dogs may impair blood vessel function, reducing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to healing tissues.
Brown has reviewed at least three controlled studies showing no proven benefit when Mederma is used for scar treatment. You would see more benefit from applying lotion or Vaseline to a scar – three times per day for 8 weeks – than you would following the same regimen with Mederma.
Short-term use: For most applications, using Vaseline with silicone is safe. It can even act as a lubricant for silicone products without causing immediate harm. Long-term exposure: Prolonged exposure might have different effects.
Best for the job: Vaseline edges out Aquaphor for wound care, since some of the ingredients in Aquaphor shouldn't be used on deep or puncture wounds. However, for minor wounds and scars, Aquaphor can also be used.
DO NOT EVER PICK OFF A SCAB. This will cause a scar by further traumatizing the fragile wound. 1. Continue applying Vaseline or Aquaphor for 2-3 weeks after suture removal.
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.
At sites where it is impractical to wear a sheet of silicone, topical scar creams containing silicone (dimethicone) appear to be the next best alternative. Other scar creams including Mederma and Aloe Vera are all probably better than leaving the scar dry but may not be superior to plain Vaseline.
For maximum effect, SilDerm™ Scar Gel should have 24 hour contact with the skin. Once dry, SilDerm™ Scar Gel can be covered with sun block or cosmetics. If SilDerm™ Scar Gel has not dried within 4–5 minutes, you have probably used too much. Gently remove the excess and allow the drying process to continue.
Hypertrophic scars are contained within the site of injury and may regress over time, while keloids spread beyond the borders of the initial injury and do not regress. On histological examination, hypertrophic scars tend to have collagen in a wavy, regular pattern, whereas keloids have no distinct pattern of collagen.
During your scar massage, keep an eye out for blistering, open areas, or a rash. You may be applying too much pressure or being too rough. If this happens, stop massaging in this area and allow it to heal. Scars are more susceptible to sunburn than regular skin.
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.
Healing wounds may itch, but you should avoid the temptation to scratch them. “Scratching the wound or picking at the scab causes more inflammation, making a scar more likely,” Fisher says.