James Spencer, MD
James Spencer, MD, is an internationally recognized expert in skin cancer and cosmetic dermatology and a practicing dermatologist in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Life leaves scars. That’s life, after all. But you don’t have to take it, do you? One possible solution—ScarAway “Silicone Daily Discs,” which were introduced in 2014 but became available in CVS drugstores in April 2015. These are small round bandages that are designed for treating small scars.
We decided to look a little deeper. Using silicone to smooth, flatten and lighten scars isn’t new, it turns out. ScarAway itself introduced its first product, Silicone Scar Sheets, in 2008. Other companies, including Cica-Care and Dermatix, both in the United Kingdom, and Biodermis, in Nevada, market similar products. Dermatologists have been using similar products for 25 or 30 years. There is good evidence that they work.
So yes, you can tame gnarly, dark, raised scars at home without seeing a doctor. Silicone products don’t work wonders and they don’t work quickly, but they do work.
Here’s what you need to know so that that they work best for you…
Over-the-counter silicone gel sheets, strips, discs and ointments can reduce the severity of a scar’s appearance, says James Spencer, MD, a dermatologist in St. Petersburg, Florida.
They are particularly useful for two types of scars that are often unsightly because they are darkly colored and raised from the skin—and have historically required a visit to the doctor to treat. Anyone can get these scars, but black and Asian people appear to be more prone to developing them:
• Hypertrophic. These occur when your body produces excess scar tissue within the confines of your wound.
• Keloid. These occur when scar tissue grows beyond the original wound. Keloids are considered much more difficult to treat because, even when they are removed by a doctor, they may grow back. They are called “secondary lesions” because they often form after the immediate scar from a wound.
The scar-reducing products come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the basic premise is the same—silicone covers your skin either all the time or for several hours a day. It typically takes about 12 weeks to get the full benefit, but you’ll likely begin to see the effects much sooner. They work on both newly acquired scars and ones you’ve had for years, and the improvement is generally permanent. Don’t expect a miracle, however. “What people want is for their scar to be gone, but unfortunately, once a scar, always a scar,” says Dr. Spencer. “You can have a better scar, but you can’t really have no scar. The best we can hope for is a flat scar that is close to the natural skin color.” If you have darker skin…are black or Asian for example…the result may not match perfectly. Why? Scar tissue lacks the cells that produce melanin, which is responsible for skin color.
These products are convenient and much less invasive than the things a dermatologist will do to improve the appearance of a scar, Dr. Spencer says. They help and do no harm. If you don’t see much improvement after a few months, you may want to see a dermatologist for other treatments. “You don’t have to feel discouraged if you have scars that make you uncomfortable,” says Dr. Spencer.
If you have tried over-the-counter approaches and aren’t satisfied with the results, your dermatologist has other treatments that may work better on your scar…
• Imiquimod: This immune-modulating cream can help if you are prone to forming keloids and you have recently suffered a wound, suggests Dr. Spencer. It’s generally prescribed by dermatologists for warts and other skin conditions, but it’s about 90% effective in preventing keloid scars, he says.
• Pulsed dye laser: If your scar is raised and pink—port wine stain blemishes, for example—this procedure makes the pink color go away and makes the scar less noticeable. The laser light removes the tiny blood vessels that are causing the pink skin color.
• Fractional laser treatment: Many dermatologists are having great success with this treatment for scars, which uses tiny laser beams to destroy scar tissue that the body replaces with new skin.
• Cortisone: Sometimes a simple shot will flatten a scar.
Most people know the origins of their scars. “This is from when I got hit with a baseball.” “This scar is from my surgery.” Or, “This scar came after I fell on the ice.” But if you have a scar that is a mystery to you, be sure to show it to your dermatologist.
“If you didn’t have an injury and you don’t know how you got it, then maybe it’s not a scar,” Dr. Spencer said. “There is a skin cancer called morpheaform basal cell carcinoma that looks for all the world like a scar—but it is a cancer that presents as a white or pale yellow patch. Not every white patch is a scar, and this is easily cured. We cut it out and sew it up.”
That procedure, of course, will create a new scar. But now you know you have options when life gives you a scar.
