The Best Scar Creams Really Can Make a Difference in Your Skin

Choosing the best scar creams can make a big difference in how your skin repairs itself. Scars are a completely natural part of recovery, whether they come from a breakout, a kitchen mishap, surgery, or that time you got a little too bold with your curling iron. And while there’s no shame in having them, it’s also totally okay to want to help them fade. The good news is that today’s scar creams go way beyond basic moisturizers. They’re packed with ingredients that hydrate, soothe, and support the healing process.

“There are lots of options in this area, but the best way to choose a formula is to assess what your needs and goals are first,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. Joshua Korman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Northern California, agrees—and adds that understanding your scar’s characteristics is key. “It’s important to identify your scar: new or old, color (how red, how pigmented), texture (raised or flat), and if they are bothersome, like itchy or painful,” Understanding the type of scar allows you to focus on the treatment that works best for you, as different scars don’t always react the same way to various ingredients or methods.

Our Top Picks

Whether your scar is brand new or a few years in the making, there’s something out there that can help. Here are the best scar creams worth trying now.

Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Advanced Scar Control

Why we love it: SkinCeuticals is one of those brands that comes up constantly when we talk to dermatologists and plastic surgeons, and the SkinCeuticals Advanced Scar Control is a favorite for new and recent scars alike. “I recommend using an occlusive moisturizer with ingredients like silicone to soften the scar, in conjunction with in-office treatments like steroid injections or laser resurfacing treatments to reduce the scar’s height and size over time,” says board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Catherine Chang, MD, who is based in Los Angeles. This smooth, non-sticky gel provides an occlusive barrier to protect skin and help flatten and fade new scars, such as those from surgery, bug bites, or breakouts. It’s loaded with 95% medical-grade silicones, plus calming allantoin and fatty acids to keep healing skin hydrated and happy. You get less redness, less discoloration, and a much smoother finish over time.

Best Silicone Strips: Embrace Active Scar Defense

Why we love it: Embrace Active Scar Defense isn’t your average scar treatment—it’s an FDA-cleared silicone therapy system developed by Stanford researchers to help keep scars flat, smooth, and less noticeable from the start. “These come in silicone strips and are available in various sizes,” says Dr. Korman. “The strips relieve tension on the incision and also provide the benefits of silicone to the scar. Reducing tension is key to minimizing surgical scars.”

Each medical-grade silicone sheet stays in place for seven to 10 days, even through workouts and showers. During a 60-day course, Dr. Korman says he has seen excellent results, especially on new scar tissue.

Best with SPF: Biocorneum Advanced Scar Treatment

Why we love it: Biocorneum Advanced Scar Treatment is a go-to among plastic surgeons, especially because protecting scars from sun exposure is key to preventing darkening and hyperpigmentation. “Crosslinked silicone gel and SPF 30 are packed into this product,” says Dr. Korman. “I’ve found that both the color and the texture of scars improve after several weeks to months of using it.” As the only FDA-cleared scar gel that combines medical-grade silicone with broad-spectrum SPF 30, it helps fade and protect healing scars without the need for tapes or strips, which can sometimes irritate sensitive skin. “It’s easy to apply and has almost no side effects,” adds Dr. Korman. It’s also great for scars on joints, curves, and larger areas.

Best Drugstore: Avène Cicalfate+ Scar Gel

Why we love it: Avène Cicalfate+ Scar Gel is a dermatologist favorite to soothe and treat scars, particularly on sensitive skin, thanks to its gentle, fragrance-free formula. “It’s my most recommended over-the-counter treatment,” says Dr. Chacon. “Its silicone gel formula has a gentle texture combined with hyaluronic acid to improve the appearance of the scar while locking in optimum hydration for healing support.” The formula also features Avène’s signature thermal spring water, known for its calming, anti-inflammatory properties, along with C+ Restore, a protein-rich postbiotic that helps nourish the skin barrier.

Best for Stretch Marks: Tronque Scar Concentrate

Why we love it: Tronque Scar Concentrate is a vitamin C-rich oil that goes beyond typical scar creams. “I love it because it’s an oil as opposed to the usual cream, which some patients actually prefer,” says Dr. Chacon. “It’s supercharged with botanical extracts like algae and vitamins A and C to reduce scar damage.” The formula features four types of vitamin C—including tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate—for serious brightening, collagen support, and skin-smoothing power, plus bakuchiol (a gentle retinol alternative), pink algae, and 26 bioactive botanicals. You can use it all over your body, layer it under your moisturizer, and reapply as often as needed.

Best for Old Scars: Mederma Advanced Scar Gel

Why we love it: Mederma Advanced Scar Gel is a longtime drugstore favorite. “This product contains allantoin, an anti-inflammatory ingredient that gently exfoliates and moisturizes the skin,” says Ruth McTighe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Mt. Pleasant, SC. It’s the only brand to include “cepalin—onion bulb extract—which helps regulate collagen production and supports cell regeneration.” The gel texture absorbs easily, making it ideal for new surgical scars or small scars from cuts and burns. “You can typically expect to notice some improvement in softness after about a month, with more visible changes—like reduced redness and smoother texture—after two to three months,” she adds.

Best for Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars: ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets

Why we love it: If you’re dealing with hypertrophic scars (those thick, raised marks that stay within the original wound) or keloids (scars that grow beyond it), ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets are worth a try. “These flexible, breathable strips are made with medical-grade silicone that creates a comfy barrier over your skin to help lock in moisture and support healthy collagen production,” says Dr. McTighe. They also help ease itching, dryness, and overall discomfort. You can trim them to fit or layer them for larger areas—and since they’re waterproof, they stay in place for up to 10 days. With consistent use, scars often appear smoother and less noticeable within one to three months.

Best for Under Makeup: Violette_FR Invisible Bandage

Why we love it: Despite the name, Violette_FR’s Invisible Bandage isn’t an actual bandage—it’s a clear, gel-like formula that acts as an invisible shield for your skin. Winner of an Allure Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award, this innovative product is less of a traditional scar treatment and more of a skincare-meets-makeup hybrid.

While it’s not meant for deep or raised scars, it’s incredibly helpful for fresh, minor marks, post-inflammatory discoloration, dark spots, and healing blemishes. Infused with niacinamide, CM-glucan, and hydrolyzed red algae extract, it helps calm inflammation and support skin repair. It dries down smoothly, like a primer, so you can layer makeup right on top.

Best for Acne Scars: Dr. Idriss Major Fade Active Seal Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer

Why we love it: Dr. Idriss Major Fade Active Seal Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer is part antioxidant serum, part moisturizer, and fully committed to fading dark spots. Whether you’re dealing with atrophic scars (those post-acne indents in skin), sun spots, or lingering discoloration, this lightweight, fragrance-free gel delivers results without irritation.

It packs a powerful punch of brighteners—tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (a stable, gentle form of vitamin C) and 4-butylresorcinol—to even out tone and help prevent future pigment buildup. Plus, glycerin boosts hydration by drawing water into the skin, leaving you with a fresh, dewy glow. Think of it as your all-in-one for smoother, more even-toned skin.

Best for New Scars: SkinMedica Scar Recovery Gel

Why we love it: Once your wound is all sealed up, it’s go time—and SkinMedica Scar Recovery Gel is here to help when your skin is in recovery mode, yet the scar is still fresh. This lightweight, non-greasy gel contains a soothing blend of centella asiatica, bulbine frutescens, and olive leaf extract to calm redness, improve skin texture, and prevent scars from becoming constant reminders. Plus, lactic acid gently encourages cell turnover, promoting brighter and more even skin. Best of all, it’s fragrance-free, sting-free, and absorbs in just seconds, so using it twice a day feels like a breeze.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ingredients help scars?

There are lots of ingredients that can help improve the appearance of scars, “but the best way to choose a formula is to assess what your needs and goals are first before choosing a product,” says Dr. Chacon. To protect and moisturize, she recommends starting with silicone-based gels or sheets: “These products work to seal off the scar and protect and hydrate the affected area.” For hyperpigmented scars, Dr. Chacon suggests using hydroquinone, which works to lighten the area with skin-lightening agents. However, she warns that “using a quality sunscreen is key if the scar will be exposed to sunlight to prevent worsened scarring.” For raised keloid scars, “corticosteroid is the ingredient to seek out from a clinician as these creams help to break down keloid scars and reduce inflammation and the size of the scar,” she says.