A scar on the skin is permanent and complete removal is not yet possible. There are, however, numerous scar treatments that can improve scar appearances, whether on the face, limbs or body. Options include:

Give the scar time to mature – as described above, it is common for a scar to look red in the first few months. In time this should fade and may well leave a very acceptable appearance that doesn’t need treatment, even on the face. Most scars can take a year or more to fully mature.

Scar creams – there are lots of scar cream treatments available on the market, some which seem quite promising and others which are perhaps less so. Many surgeons advise massaging scars with simple skin lotion to keep the skin supple and well hydrated, theoretically helping better scar formation. 

Concealing the scar – a flat red scar can often be simply concealed with the use of make-up. More complex scars can have their appearance improved with specialist camouflage make-up, which can be taught by a specialist in this field. Your general practitioner or surgery specialist should be able to refer you for such scar treatment.

Scar gel treatment – a more recent addition to scar treatments is silicone gel. This may be in the form of flexible gel sheets that stick over the scar, or liquid silicone gel that is smeared over the scar area. Treatment may need to continue for a number of months. Although the exact mechanism is poorly understood, improvements in the scar are often seen. 

Steroid injection – keloid and hypertrophic scars can become very firm as they grow. During this phase, a small amount of steroid can be injected into the scar in the outpatient department. Often, the steroid treatment will help the scar to soften, reduce itching, and even start to flatten the scar. Repeated injections may be needed a few weeks later.

Scar surgery – Laser can occasionally be used to improve the appearance of scars, and dermabrasion (which shaves down the skin surface) may help some forms of acne scarring. If the above methods of scar treatment have not improved the scar to an acceptable appearance, then surgery can occasionally help. The scar can be removed and the skin re-stitched in a bid to produce a better result. Sometimes the scar may be ‘broken up’ into a zig-zag shape to help it blend better into the surrounding skin – this is known as a ‘Z plasty procedure’. Surgery, however, will result in fresh scarring and there is always a risk that the new scar could form even worse than the original scar. In the case of keloid scars, the specialist may want to start using steroid treatment or pressure devices to try and prevent recurrence of the keloid. The final choice of scar treatment can be difficult, and so any such treatment should ideally be with an experienced specialist such as a Plastic surgeon