Scar Assessment
Independent · evidence-based · every claim cited

Scars, explained by evidence.

A guide to every scar type and every treatment used on them. Each treatment is graded Strong, Moderate, Limited or Weak for the clinical evidence behind it, and every claim links to the study it came from. Nothing here is sponsored.

Identify your scar type Browse all scar types

Browse by scar type

Not sure which type you have? The assessment narrows it down in five questions.

Acne scarsRed and brown marks usually fade on their own over 6 to 12 months. Pitted scars are permanent without treatment, and the treatments that work on texture are procedures. 27 articlesOpen →
Burn scarsMost burn scars keep changing for 12 to 18 months. Silicone, pressure and massage during that window improve the final result. 14 articlesOpen →
C-section scarsMost C-section scars settle into a thin flat line as they mature over 12 to 24 months. An overhang or a tethered shelf is treatable, but not with creams. 11 articlesOpen →
Chickenpox scarsChickenpox pits are collagen the body never replaced. They do not fade with time, but they respond to treatment at any age. 3 articlesOpen →
Contracture scarsA contracture is scar tissue tight enough to limit movement. Treatment targets function: stretching and splinting while the scar is active, surgical release once skin length is gone. 15 articlesOpen →
Hypertrophic scarsA hypertrophic scar stays inside the original wound borders and often flattens on its own over 12 to 18 months. Silicone and pressure are the mainstays while it settles. 18 articlesOpen →
Keloid scarsKeloids grow beyond the original wound and rarely fade without treatment. Corticosteroid injection is first line, and recurrence after surgery alone is high. 21 articlesOpen →
Stretch marksStretch marks are tears in the dermis, not surface marks. Treatment produces modest improvement, and red marks respond better than white ones. 12 articlesOpen →
Surgical and incision scarsTreatment starts in the first three months. Silicone from closure plus daily sun protection have the strongest evidence, and both still affect the outcome through 12 months. 29 articlesOpen →

Browse by treatment

The same treatment can be first line for one scar type and useless for another. Grades inside each hub are given per scar type.

Creams and dressings

Silicone gel and silicone sheets Silicone has more randomized-trial evidence behind it than any other scar topical. The benefit depends on daily use over months. StrongOpen → Scar creams and topical treatments Medical-grade silicone is the only topical supported by multiple randomized trials. Retinoids are rated Moderate for dark marks and shallow texture. Vitamin E is rated Weak and irritates about one user in three. No cream fills a deep pit. ModerateOpen → Natural and home remedies for scars Most home remedies for scars have little clinical evidence behind them. Vitamin E, the most popular one, is rated Weak. LimitedOpen →

Resurfacing

Laser treatment for scars Clinical trials treat 50% to 75% improvement in texture, height and color as a strong laser outcome. The scar becomes flatter and paler. ModerateOpen → Chemical peels and TCA CROSS Full-field peels do modest work on scar texture and pigment. TCA CROSS, applied only into the pit, is the strongest peel-based option for ice pick scars. ModerateOpen → Microneedling for scars Microneedling is first line for pitted acne and chickenpox scars, and it is contraindicated if you are keloid-prone. Expect 3 to 6 sessions and a partial result. ModerateOpen →

Procedures

Corticosteroid injections Injected steroid is first line for keloids and thick hypertrophic scars. It flattens and softens raised tissue, and recurrence is the limitation, not the flattening. StrongOpen → Subcision for scars Subcision cuts the fibrous band tethering a depressed scar from underneath. It is the treatment for rolling scars and does nothing for ice pick scars. ModerateOpen → Dermal fillers for scars Fillers lift a depressed scar by adding volume under it. The correction is real and temporary, and it needs repeating. ModerateOpen → Surgical scar revision Revision exchanges a scar for a thinner, better-oriented one. It does not remove it, and on a keloid it fails without an adjuvant. ModerateOpen →

Physical

Scar massage Scar massage is cheap, low-risk and best supported for burn scars. The trial evidence is thinner than the confidence with which it is usually recommended. Moderatefor burn scarsOpen →
Browse all treatments

Top questions

When should I start treating a surgical scar?

Within the first three months. Silicone once the wound is fully closed, plus sun protection for the first year.

Which scar cream ingredients have evidence?

Medical-grade silicone is the only topical with repeated randomized support. Retinoids and onion extract have weaker evidence; vitamin E has none.

Does vitamin E help scars?

No. The best-known controlled trial found no cosmetic benefit and contact dermatitis in 33% of participants. Rated Weak.

Which treatment suits my scar type?

Each treatment page lists the scar types it works on, with a separate evidence rating for each.

Recently reviewed

These articles were re-checked against the current literature on the date shown. A review means the sources were re-read and the evidence re-tested. It does not mean the page was edited.

Guide to how to prevent acne scarring before it starts

How to Prevent Acne Scarring Before It Starts

In a study of 185 acne clinic patients, 95% had some facial scarring, and mild acne scarred too. Early treatment, not picking, retinoids and daily SPF are what cut the risk.

Evidence reviewed 9 Nov 2026
Guide to what works for scars: smooth skin

What Works for Scars: The Science of Smooth Skin

From silicone gels to fractional lasers, this guide ranks every major scar treatment by clinical evidence — and tells you which ones to skip.

Evidence reviewed 9 Nov 2026
Guide to vitamins for scar healing: what to eat for better skin

Vitamins for scar healing: What to eat for better skin

Vitamin C, D, zinc, and targeted dietary patterns can meaningfully support scar healing — but not all supplements live up to their marketing claims.

Evidence reviewed 9 Nov 2026
How the review process works