How to Fade Scars, According to Dermatologists

We all get scars for a variety of reasons: childhood accidents, surgery, a cooking mishap, acne. And while some scars are embraced, others can cause insecurities in the people who carry them. Thankfully, faded scars are achievable—and we know just how to heal them into near oblivion.

For those looking to make their scars disappear, we spoke to two leading board-certified dermatologists—Michelle Henry, M.D., and Shereene Idriss, M.D.—to break down how to get rid of scars, what to consider when treating them, what off-label treatments are options, and more.

Types Of Scars

For starters, you need to determine the type of scar you have because yes, there are different types and they each have a treatment plan that will work best for them. There are four kids of major scars:

1. Keloid scars: Dr. Henry says that these raised scars roll outside the boundaries of the initial wound.
2. Atrophic scars: Also called rolling scars, these typically have a sunken look and cause uneven skin texture.
3. Hypertrophic scars: Dr. Henry says that these are typically thick and follow the wound or trauma, and notes that they're more common than keloid scars.
4. Post-inflammatory erythema: While these are not medically categorized as scars, many skincare experts treat them as such. Dr. Idriss says that these are leftover immediately after a breakout and can be red, pink, or purple.

At-Home Scar Treatments

Color Correct

You technically can achieve faded scars from the comfort of your own home—or at least make it seem like it. The easiest way to do this, Dr. Idriss says, is to color correct with makeup. According to the dermatologist, it's best to treat color before texture because even skin tone can give the illusion of smooth, clear skin. One of our favorite color-correcting products is the E.l.f. Camo Color Corrector, which is less than $5 and comes in five different shades.

Try Topical Treatments

Topical treatments can be great at minimizing or preventing the appearance of post-inflammatory marks. When looking for skincare products to help fade scars, Dr. Henry says to look for formulas that use silicone gel, such as the SkinCeuticals Advanced Scar Control, noting that there's a lot of data to support that silicone softens scar tissue and can even reduce itching.

To treat pigment, both dermatologists recommend using either retinoids or prescription tretinoin. "[They're] great at treating hyperpigmentation spots and even preventing future breakouts," explains Dr. Idriss.

Give Latisse a Go

Additionally, Latisse can be used off-label to treat scars lighter than a patient's natural skin color. Dr. Henry caveats that it can induce pigment in the skin. Dr. Henry explains that it can induce pigment, which is why the label cautions people with blue eyes. "We try to manipulate that side effect of the Latisse for good," she says.

In-Office Scar Treatments

There's no one-size-fits-all approach—each case is different, but Dr. Idriss says that for textural scarring, in-office treatments are almost always needed.

Dr. Henry says that Botox can be injected into keloid scars to treat scar tissue, hypertrophic scars can benefit from having steroids injected into the treatment area, lasers (such as Fraxel, VBeam, Pico, and CO2) stimulate collagen production to speed up healing, and microneedling and radiofrequency can be used to treat atrophic scars.

People of all skin types can benefit from topicals and in-office treatments. However, using laser on darker skin tones is an advanced technique, so Dr. Henry says it needs to be done by someone with a lot of skill and experience treating melanin-rich skin.

When to Treat A Scar

It's better to start treatment sooner rather than later. "[It's best] when the acne is still active and the post-inflammatory mark is still red," says Dr. Idriss. "If you hold off on treatment and allow time to heal these marks, they can turn brown through oxidation, basically becoming iron deposits that are more difficult to treat in the future."

However, she and Dr. Henry agree that old scars can also be treated and get great results. "Scars may not entirely disappear, but their color and texture can lighten greatly and give the appearance that the scars are gone," says Dr. Idriss.