Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular basis to improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend topical vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.
The research indicates that people who have undergone surgery may be able to use vitamin E to prevent the formation of keloid scars because vitamin E helps wound healing. 5 This leads to the theory that vitamin E may be a good prevention technique before scar tissue forms as opposed to afterward.
WHY IS VITAMIN C GOOD FOR YOUR SCARS? Vitamin C is great for not only clearing up existing acne, but also healing scars that are caused by acne. Vitamin C can be used topically to help with existing scars or it can be ingested in order to begin working on diminishing scars.
There is little clinical evidence that vitamin E oil or supplements can help reduce the appearance of scars. There is some anecdotal evidence, but the positive effects people notice may result from moisturizing or massaging the scar, rather than from the vitamin E itself.
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.
And there's really no reason to try it: Scientific studies didn't find a difference in scar quality from twice-daily application of vitamin E, Vaseline or Aquaphor.
By definition, retinol is a derivative of vitamin A—and while it is most commonly used for anti-aging purposes, it is also frequently used to smooth out acne marks and scars.
Cho et al. reported that patients with vitamin D deficiency had increased scar pigmentation, decreased epidermal barrier function in scar tissue, and lower scar elasticity and greater scar rigidity compared to non-deficient burn patients.
There is evidence that vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, biotin, and the minerals chromium, iron, selenium, and zinc play important roles in maintaining skin heath. Additional supplementation may be helpful for specific skin conditions.
Ice-pick scars are a common type of scarring that can occur as a result of the acne healing process. They appear as small, sharp indentations that are wider at the skin's surface and narrow into a point as they reach down into the skin.
Vitamin Deficiency
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and boosts healing. It is also needed for the body to make Collagen (protein that forms scar tissue) eat high C foods such as broccoli, tomatoes, cabbage and oranges. Foods rich in Vitamin D improve your immune system and help stave off infections.
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.
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.
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Vitamin E Scar Serum combines five powerful ingredients to reduce the appearance of scars resulting from surgery, injury, burns, stretch marks, C-section, cuts, scrapes, and insect bites.
However, it typically takes at least a couple of months for retinol to fade acne scars, and even prescription-strength retinol may not produce the results you want to achieve. Retinol is likely to have very little, if any, noticeable effect on the appearance of severe acne scarring.
Don't combine retinol with alpha or beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, vitamin C, and other retinols or retinoids. Don't skip sunscreen Retinols are usually used as part of nighttime skincare routines, but even when they're applied at night, they can lead to lingering sun sensitivity.
Silicone gel (sheet or ointment): Used since 1982, silicone can: Treat a raised scar by reducing its size, hardness, redness, swelling, itch, or stiffness. Prevent a raised scar, especially after surgery.
Medicated Creams or Gels
Over-the-counter skin medications such as creams or gels can help. If your scar is itchy or sensitive, antihistamine cream may stop the itch while helping your scar heal. Corticosteroid cream can help prevent scarring and has been shown to reduce the appearance of scars over time.
Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible. Another tip for caring for your scars includes surgery. Surgery will not eliminate the scar but can change its shape or make it less noticeable.
Coconut oil is another natural oil that's shown to help encourage skin tissue to heal, which may mean it's less likely to scar. Just massage the oil into your skin for around five minutes, three or four times a day. Coconut oil isn't advised for people with naturally oily skin.
Application of a triple antibiotic ointment (such as over-the-counter Bacitracin, Neosporin or Polysporin) three times a day to the wound for a full three weeks helps prevent infection and creates a better foundation for improved long-term scar appearance.