How Do Scar Creams Work?
Scar creams can be a life-changer for people who’ve lived with decades-old reminders of injuries and accidents or want to prevent a scar from lingering. If you are insecure over old scars that never seem to fade away, you can rest assured that there are scars creams out there that can make a difference in the overall appearance of your skin. Unfortunately, there are so many scar creams on the market that you may struggle to choose the right one.
How Do Scars Form and Why?
Let's back up for a minute and talk about scars for those who have them. A scar is the body's response to any injury. The skin comprises three main layers:
- The epidermis (the outermost layer)
- The dermis (the middle layer)
- The subcutis (the deepest layer)
When you injure yourself, whether it's a paper cut or a major surgery, all three layers of your skin are often affected. Therefore, for a scar cream to be effective, it must penetrate all three layers.
The epidermis is the first layer to injury and is made up of four types of cells: basal, squamous, granular, and lucid. These cells work together to create a new layer of skin (the epidermis) to replace the lost one. The second layer of skin, the dermis, contains blood vessels, nerves, sweat glands, and hair follicles. The dermis also helps to regulate body temperature. The subcutis is the deepest layer of skin and is comprised of fat and connective tissue.
When you injure yourself, your body works quickly to repair the damage. Depending on the size and depth of the wound, the repair process can take anywhere from a few days to a few months. Once the skin has healed, you are left with a scar. A scar is formed when the body produces too much collagen during the repair. Collagen is a protein that helps to give skin its structure and strength.
How Do Scar Creams Work?
Now for the good news - many scar creams are effective and can make a real difference in reducing the appearance in a scar or eliminating it altogether. Let's look at how they work and repair tissue and reduce the appearance of scars.
Scar creams often contain the potent antioxidant vitamin C. This vitamin powerhouse helps protect skin from free radical damage and promotes collagen production, which is the structural protein found in the skin. Vitamin C is needed for the synthesis and maintenance of collagen.
In addition to vitamin C, many scar creams also contain ingredients like onion extract and allantoin. These ingredients help moisturize the skin and promote the healing of damaged tissue. They can also help to reduce the appearance of scars over time.
Generally speaking, scar creams work by moisturizing and healing the skin. They may also contain ingredients that reduce inflammation and help to renew skin cells. For instance, Quantum Health Scar Reducing Herbal+Nutrient Cream contains aloe vera for a soothing and moisturizing treatment that benefits both old scars and new ones, too. If you're looking for a scar cream, it's essential to choose one tailored to your specific needs. For example, if you have sensitive skin, you'll want to select a gentle product that won't irritate.
Scar creams are an effective way to reduce the appearance of scars, but they won't work overnight. In some cases, it may take several weeks or even months to see a noticeable difference in your skin. So, be patient and keep using your scar cream faithfully to achieve the best results.
