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What is Scar Lotion?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

Scar lotion is a beauty product that is meant to shrink, reduce the appearance of, or help to heal scars. There are a number of products on the market that are intended to help reduce or fade scars. Some of these products can be purchased at most drug stores and pharmacies. Others require a prescription from a doctor and may require a consultation with a dermatologist before use.

In addition to helping to reduce scars, some of these kinds of lotions are also used to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Stretch marks can be the result of a number of things including rapid growth and weight gain. They are very commonly associated with pregnancy as the skin around a woman's stomach, thighs, and lower back can become rapidly stretched to accommodate the growing fetus. Some scar lotions can help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks after pregnancy or can be used during pregnancy to help reduce the development of these marks.

Scar tissue.
Scar tissue.

Some of the most common ingredients in scar lotion and lotion for stretch marks are Vitamin E and cocoa butter. These products can also be used on the skin during periods of growth, weight gain, or during pregnancy to help reduce the development of stretch marks. Instead of using products with Vitamin E, some people choose to simply apply Vitamin E oil directly to the area of skin that has been scarred. This oil can be purchased in small bottles or in individual capsules.

Scar lotion is used to shrink and heal scars.
Scar lotion is used to shrink and heal scars.

In addition to scar lotion that is intended for the body, there is also scar lotion that is intended for the face. This kind of lotion is usually meant to help heal and fade scars that are the result of severe acne that has left the skin damaged and pitted. These sorts of lotions are often more expensive than the ones that are intended for scarring on the body.

Acne can leave behind scars and marks.
Acne can leave behind scars and marks.

One of the best ways to avoid scarring and to reduce the need for scar lotion is to take care of skin that has been injured, stretched, or affected by a condition such as acne. The first step is to keep the affected area clean and sterile. This means regularly washing the area, making sure that it is disinfected, and regularly changing bandages if bandages are required. Also, treating the affected area with antibiotic ointment or a similar product recommended by a medical professional will help to reduce scarring.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Discussion Comments

discographer

@ZipLine-- What are the active ingredients in your scar lotion?

I'm using a herbal scar lotion and I'm very happy with it. My scars are almost completely gone and I haven't been using it for that long. This lotion has lots of natural oils and extracts like almond oil, aloe vera, chamomile extract and tea tree oil. It was a bit more expensive than other scar lotions but definitely worth it. And I suspect that the lotion will last me for several years.

You should check out customer reviews of various scar lotions before buying something. That's how I found this herbal scar lotion.

fBoyle

@ZipLine-- You need to use a scar lotion daily for at least three weeks to see results. Scars don't fade overnight, it takes a long time for them to go away regardless of what treatment is used. It's true that some scar lotions are better than others, but you still need to give it several more weeks before deciding that it does not work.

Also, other factors can influence how fast scars heal, such as skin type, the severity and age of the scar. If your stretch marks are not new, it will take even longer for them to fade. And try to use the lotion twice a day, every day.

ZipLine

I bought an over the counter scar lotion for post-pregnancy stretch marks. I have been using it for a week but I'm not seeing any changes in my scar. I'm upset because the cream was not cheap and it's supposed to be one of the best scar lotions out there.

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    • Scar tissue.
      Scar tissue.
    • Scar lotion is used to shrink and heal scars.
      By: StockPhotosArt
      Scar lotion is used to shrink and heal scars.
    • Acne can leave behind scars and marks.
      By: Budimir Jevtic
      Acne can leave behind scars and marks.
    • Thiosinaminum is a homeopathic treatment for healing scar tissue.
      By: Artem Furman
      Thiosinaminum is a homeopathic treatment for healing scar tissue.