Six Questions to Ask When Shopping for a Scar Treatment Product:

scar removal gelAn internet search for products that help improve the appearance of scars will produce enough results to leave your head spinning.  There is no shortage of creams, gels, lotions and sheets available.  One could literally spend days going through all the websites promoting products that claim to heal scars.

How then does one wade through all of those websites and make the right decision? To be more specific, how does one avoid unnecessarily spending their hard earned money on a useless product? We have developed the following  guide to help make the process a little easier. These are six questions (in no particular order) we believe you should consider while making the decision as to which scar treatment product to purchase:

Is the manufacturer realistic with their claims?
If it sounds too good to be true, then maybe it is.  Be very skeptical of any manufacturer that makes broad, sweeping claims such as “this product heals all types of scars” or “this product heals all scars, regardless of how old they are”. Rather, look for one that gives specific information relative to how and when their product works best and more importantly, specifies the limitations of their product.  Topical Scar Treatment products can be very effective at improving the size and intensity of scars, however there are certain limitations such as the age of the scar, the type of scar, etc.  A reputable company should be willing to share this information with you.  Another claim you will see regularly goes something like this:  “The number one product for scar treatment” or “The most often doctor recommended scar treatment product.”  Ask yourself how anyone really knows that to be the case or how one would go about proving these claims.  If a company making such claims offers proof, fantastic.  It is probably a product worth considering.

Is the product backed by a satisfaction guarantee?
This is one way you will know if a company truly believes in the effectiveness of their product. A word of caution here: check out the guarantee closely. It should be clearly stated and without hassle. If there is a list of ridiculous conditions associated with it then it may turn out to be no guarantee at all. Most companies will announce their guarantee on their website, which is far better than a verbal guarantee.  A written guarantee demonstrates more of a commitment.

Is the product backed by scientific studies?
Studies highlighting the effectiveness of the product are always a plus. But be careful here. Look for studies published in professional journals or other reputable publications. Anybody can mock up a study to make their product look good, however it is difficult to get a bogus study printed in a reputable publication. Another plus is a double blind study, where the participants are using the product being studied along with a placebo, and are unaware which product is real and which is the Placebo.  Scientific studies can be hard to follow, with a lot of terminology not familiar to most of us.  Generally you should be able to skip through all of that and go to the summary, where the results are provided.

What are the main ingredients in the product?
Take a close look at the ingredient list and find out if there is any evidence that suggests the ingredients listed are effective for scar treatment. Hint, silicone is the most proven ingredient for effective topical scar treatment.  Many products are full of fancy vitamins and other ingredients that sound good but haven’t been proven effective.  However there are countless reputable scientific studies substantiating the effectiveness of silicone.

Is the product recommended by medical professionals?
If possible, find out if the product is recommended by physicians. Plastic Surgeons in particular will recommend scar treatment products to their patients and it is in their best interest to recommend effective products. After all, Plastic Surgery is an image conscience industry.

How long has the product been on the market?
A product doesn’t need to have a long history to be effective, but generally speaking a product won’t be around for an extended period of time if it doesn’t work.  Likewise, a long history is often evidence that the manufacturer is legitimate.

So, there you have it. A product wouldn’t necessarily have to meet all of the criteria established in the list to qualify as worthy. The list is simply designed to give you some guidelines to think about and help you make a more informed decision. There are some very legitimate, effective products on the market and the right product for one may not be the best for another.  For more information on scars and scar treatment, please feel free to call us at 1(800)771-2215.