How to Remove and Prevent Scars

Whether it's from surgery, acne, cool injuries, or pregnancy, it's hard to get through life without a few scars. Despite that whole "gives you character" spiel, not all scars are really something we want to be stuck with forever. How can you minimize the appearance of scars or prevent them from popping up in the first place?
Unfortunately, not all scars are going to go away or stay away. Some people scar easily, and some kinds of cuts just scar. It's also much harder to get rid of old scars than to get rid of newer ones. That said, there are some things you can do to help them fade or prevent them from being glaring.

A visit to the dermatologist should be your first step if you have major scars. They may refer you to over-the-counter treatments, but they will be able to tell you all of your options before you waste time and money on something that isn't going to work for you.

Neosporin and other silicone-based scar treatment therapies can help to fade some scars, although they may not make them disappear completely. They usually have to be worn for 8 weeks or more, but the sheets only have to be changed every 3-4 days and should be worn for at least 12 hours at a time, so they aren't as expensive as they seem initially. If the scar hasn't changed after 8-10 weeks, it probably won't, but it is time consuming, so don't give up if you don't see results after one week.

On the other hand, some people try to use regular antibiotic ointment to get rid of scars. Although it may help the sore itself to heal in a more sanitary way that helps it not to scar, just rubbing it on a healed scar probably won't do much.

Mederma gel, a gel made from onion extract, is a good way to get rid of some scars. Many people use it to get rid of acne scars, but it can be used on other scars as well and can help scars to fade. Usually it takes several months to make the scars fade sufficiently, so don't expect to be able to use it for two weeks and call it good.

Alpha hydroxy acid is a good way to break down scar tissue and make scars fade. Most people use it for their faces, but it should work on any skin over a period of time.

Sometimes dermatologists can remove scars surgically with a laser, but it isn't the first option for most people. It doesn't necessarily work for everyone, and for some people it can make the scar worse by making it darker. There are risks of painful infections as well. It's a good idea to talk to a doctor you trust about your particular case in order to see if you have a good chance of improving the appearance of the scar.

Care of the wound is one of the most important parts of preventing scars to begin with. Keep it clean, let it breathe, and try putting vitamin E oil on scars right after they close and begin to heal. It probably won't work years afterward, but for fairly new scars, vitamin E oil can prevent ugly scars.