9 Best Scar Creams and Gels, Recommended by Doctors

This powerful gel contains silicone, which is considered the most effective topical treatment for scars. "Silicone gel improves the barrier function of the skin's outer layer,” says Alpana Mohta, MD, a dermatologist in Bikaner, India. “It creates a semi-occlusive environment over the scar, preventing excessive water loss and maintaining hydration.” Thousands of reviewers confirm that this helps make their scars flatter and less prominent. It doesn't happen overnight, though: To achieve results, you should use this treatment for three months, as recommended.

Fans of this popular product—which lists silicon as its main ingredient—love how easy it is to use the roller-ball function instead of having to apply it with their fingertips. But its shiny appearance makes it less ideal for using in prominent areas such as the face. A great option for less prominent parts of the body, or if you simply like the convenience of rolling on your scar treatment as easily as a lip gloss.

If you think getting a tan will help your scars blend in better, think again. “Prolonged sun exposure without proper sun protection can hinder the healing process and make scars more noticeable,” says Dr. Mitchell. “It's crucial to protect scars from harmful UV rays using sunscreen or physical barriers like clothing.” This Mederma Scar Cream contains an SPF 30 for protection against the sun (although it's not water-resistant—if you’re swimming or sweating, you’ll need to use a sunscreen that’s designed for getting wet). Be sure to always use sunscreen all over to protect the rest of your body, too!

There’s a reason Mederma has become a go-to brand for scar creams and gels. “This over-the-counter gel contains key ingredients like allium cepa [onion] extract and hyaluronic acid, which have been shown to improve the appearance of scars over time,” says dermatologist Mitchel Goldman, MD, founder of Cosmetic Laser Dermatology in San Diego. The gel’s ingredient list covers a lot of bases, including allantoin—which soothes irritated skin, a plus if your scar gets itchy or tender—as well as moisturizer and a provitamin to lock in that much-needed hydration. Use for at least two weeks, as recommended.

Adhesive sheets are another way to apply effective ingredients to scars. Dr. Mohta recommends Cica-Care Silicone Gel Adhesive Sheets as a way to reduce the enlargement, or overgrowth of scars (also called hypertrophy). “Silicone gel sheets applied to immature hypertrophic scars have significantly reduced scar stiffness, erythema and overall severity,” she says. Reviewers say they are a good buy compared with other scar sheets.

There are a few products that, while not officially marketed as scar creams, have proven to be effective treatments. Bio-Oil Skincare Oil has become a dermatologist favorite and is “known for its effectiveness in reducing the appearance of scars,” says Dr. Mitchell, adding, “It contains a blend of natural oils and vitamins that can enhance skin hydration and promote scar healing.” Dr. Mohta warns, however, that its efficacy “is still debated among researchers [and] some studies suggest that vitamin E may not be effective and can even cause contact dermatitis in some individuals.”

If you’ve ever had a keloid scar—a raised or bumpy scar that keeps growing—you know that they can be resistant to healing. "Keloids are more challenging to treat,” says Dr. Mohta. But customers rave about this gel, which focuses on flattening keloid scars. Although it can take time to work, its self-drying formula means that makeup can be applied over the scar to minimize its appearance while the gel (hopefully) works its magic.

Reviewers love this organic, climate-pledge friendly balm, which includes ingredients such a tamanu oil, sea buckthorn seed oil, and calendula and note that it’s particularly great for helping prevent stretch marks by adding extra moisture. It’s also more effective than using ointments like Vaseline or Aquaphor, says Dr. Rogers.

This gel comes with a high price tag but also packs a silicone-heavy punch; that prized ingredient makes up 95% of the formula with some other goodies—like fatty acids and allantoin for soothing irritated skin—added in for hydration as well as ensuring the gel’s smooth application.