Mederma products are probably the most well-known over-the-counter scar reduction treatments today, with some clinical trials suggesting that they minimize scar appearance in around 80 percent of users. Meanwhile, they come in various topical formulations such as lotion, cream, and gel, with the ideal one depending on your skin type and even the climate.
Here we have provided Mederma reviews to guide you in choosing the product that will suit your skin, age of scar, and other pertinent factors.
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What Is Mederma?
While Mederma sells an array of skincare products, they are mostly known for their scar and stretch mark removal creams and gels. They have heavily invested tons of money in their research and development to come up with topical products that can improve the color, texture, and overall appearance of scars.
Mederma scar reduction productions all contain Cepalin, which is extracted from onion and has shown to prevent and reduce inflammation and swelling and to curb the overproduction of scar tissue responsible for the appearance of hypertrophic scars. When used as a scar treatment, this botanical extract can improve the overall structure and appearance of the scar. Cepalin has been shown to improve acne marks, overgrown scars, burns, and stretch marks.
Product Specs
Mederma scar treatments come in different topical formulations, although they all have one thing in common: They have no paraben, dye, and other chemicals known to cause irritation and other side effects. Being paraben-free also means the products are safe for pregnant and nursing women because these chemical mimic the activity of certain hormones.
While Cepalin is the main active ingredient, each scar reduction product contains slightly different formulations and extracts. For instance, Mederma Quick Dry Oil is infused with various botanical extracts such as sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, and rose hip oil, while Mederma Scar Cream Plus is formulated with SPF 30 to prevent sunburn and further skin damage caused by UVA and UVB rays.
Many of their topical products also include antioxidants and peptides to promote healthy-looking skin.
Pricing
You can purchase Mederma scar reduction gels and creams for around $10-14. Each tube can last about two weeks for a small- or medium-sized scar.
Mederma Reviews: How It Compares
To make our Mederma reviews more objective, we have picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
Dermatix Silicone Gel
BioDermis Xeragel
ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets
Dermatix Silicone Gel
Image Source: Amazon
This silicone-based topical product helps the scars fade better by keeping the skin well hydrated and nourished, making this ideal for new scars. According to its manufacturer, this transparent gel is formulated to soften and flatten raised scars, improve their color, and relieve itching and discomfort that often affect newly formed scars.
This self-drying gel keeps the skin well hydrated, which is the key to more favorable scarring following surgery, burns, and other traumatic injuries. After it dries, it leaves a thin protective sheet on the surface of the skin.
Meanwhile, the product can be applied to pretty much all areas of the skin, including the face and joints.
BioDermis Xeragel
Image Source: Amazon
Another silicone gel scar treatment, this is specifically formulated for small scars and areas where scar sheets would be inconvenient (e.g., joints and face). Its formulation works for old and new scars that resulted from surgery, burns, trauma, and wound.
But as with most silicone-based scar treatments, BioDermis Xeragel works best for new scars—i.e., the wound is just declared clinically healed (about three weeks after an injury) or the sutures have been just removed.
According to its manufacturer, this scar reduction product is suitable for children and people with sensitive skin.
ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets
Image Source: Amazon
This is another silicone-based scar treatment, although it comes in sheets. Aside from hydrating and nourishing the skin, which is the key to more favorable scarring, the use of silicone sheet further corrects the appearance of raised scar by applying constant pressure.
ScarAway sheets can be removed gently from your skin and can even be washed to be re-used multiple times, up to seven days.
Mederma Reviews
AmLactin lotion is the go-to treatment option for those suffering from keratosis pilaris. It is widely available and not any more expensive than regular lotions, so it’s not surprising that most discussions of KP inevitably include various AmLactin reviews and endorsements. If you suffer from KP, then you will want to see how well AmLactin lotion works for you.
Ease of Use
Quality
The various topical formulations of Mederma that include quick-drying oil, light gel, cream formulated with SPF, and deeply nourishing ointment give you a wide range of option. However, they don’t come in sheets, which some people find more convenient to use during hot weather.
While clinical studies have shown that around 80 percent of Mederma users experienced some level of improvement after three weeks of application, take note that the results vary in actual use. But to shed light on the issue of patient satisfaction, 50 percent of verified Amazon users gave it a 5-star rate, while in other consumer sites Mederma reviews have received 2-3 star ratings.
Pros
- Mederma products come in different formulations that include light gel, cream, and oil. This means that you can always find something that suits your skin type. Based on our Mederma reviews, gel suits people who want oil-free hydration because their skin already produces copious amounts of oil, whereas cream is ideal for someone with dry and fly skin because it can penetrate their skin better.
- The topical products are typically sold in three-month supplies, which is the ideal timeframe of use. A 20g tube is often enough to treat a small to medium-sized scar (3 inches long), while a 50g tube might be sufficient for a bigger scar (10 inches long).
- If you want a scar cream that also acts as a sunscreen, you should choose Mederma Scar Cream Plus SPF 30.
- Their formulations don’t contain parabens, which are commonly used as a preservative in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Studies have shown that some parabens simulate estrogen by binding estrogen receptors on cells, which in turn may predispose people to a higher risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity.
- Mederma products are quite affordable.
- They are often sold by large drugstores and grocery stores. Most leading online stores and skincare shops also carry their brand.
Cons
- As with any over-the-counter scar reduction treatment, Mederma products suit patients with smaller scars.
- Not everyone can expect noticeably improvement from Mederma. This is particularly true for people with pitted scars or large keloids, and individuals who need “more correction” that they require more invasive procedures such as steroid injection, laser, surgery, or a combination of these.
- Mederma does not come in sheets unlike some silicone-based scar treatments. Some doctors prefer sheets because the constant pressure might further discourage the formation of scar tissue into the dermis. Furthermore, some people don’t like gels and creams getting on their clothes, which might be an issue in hot climates.
Dermatix Silicone Gel
This silicone-based scar reduction treatment dries quickly and leaves an invisible thin sheet over the scar. Clinical studies have shown that it curbs excess collagen production, which is the key to favorable scars—i.e., they appear faded and flat.
Ease of Use
Quality
The results of clinical trials and actual use vary due to factors such as the type and extent of scar, skin type, and individual goals. Nonetheless, compared to many topical scar creams, Dermatix Silicone Gel has received high ratings from Amazon, with more than 70 percent of users giving it a 5-star rating.
Pros
- It dries just within 4-5 minutes and does not leave you with an “icky” feel like some scar creams in the market.
- It has been formulated to reduce itching and discomfort associated with newly formed scars.
- Ideal for keloids and hypertrophic scars (they have a raised appearance) caused by surgery, burns, and trauma wounds.
- It also works for old scars (more than a year old).
Cons
- It is a bit pricy, about 3-4 times more expensive than Mederma products.
- For better results, many users have claimed that you should massage it into your skin to break up the scar tissue, as opposed to just slapping it on like a sunscreen.
- Not everyone can expect visible scar reduction. After all, we all respond differently to topical products.
- If you need extensive correction, silicone gel products may not be enough as a stand-alone treatment.
- You have to wait until your scar is clinically healed. Applying silicone-based scar products too soon may affect healing and irritate the skin, which may worsen the appearance of scars.
BioDermis Xeragel
This is a 100 percent silicone scar treatment cream. Don’t be fooled by its name since its formulation is anything but light [gel]. In fact, many users have noted its sticky consistency, with some even describing it as a messy blob.
Ease of Use
Quality
To reiterate, this is a very thick, sticky cream that doesn’t dry completely. This means it can stain your clothes and be rather inconvenient when used in hot weather. Some users have also complained about the tube that can’t be emptied completely.
BioDermis Xeragel receives 5-star ratings from around 40 percent of Amazon customers. Meanwhile, the vast majority of unsatisfied users mentioned that its sticky consistency prompted them to stop using the product sooner than the recommended 90-day use.
Pros
- Many post-surgery patients have noticed an improvement in the texture, color, and overall appearance of their scars after 90 days of use.
- It’s 100 percent silicone formulation gives effective relief from itching and discomfort that commonly affects newly formed scars. In fact, many patients have claimed that their symptoms were gone right after applying the product.
- As with any silicone-based scar treatment, it reduces collagen production, which is responsible for the appearance of keloids and hypertrophic scars, and hydrates the skin to further allow the scars to fade into the background.
Cons
- It leaves a sticky residue on clothes because it does not dry completely. This is particularly an issue if you sweat a lot or you live in a hot and humid region.
- It’s a bit pricey for its size (10 grams).
- You have to purchase two or more tubes if you want to follow the 90-day recommended timeframe of use for most topical scar treatments.
ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets
These products should be worn for a minimum of 12 hours per day for three months to see the final results. To maintain their adhesiveness, gently wash the sheets daily, which you can use for seven days.
The sheets can also be cut in smaller pieces, depending on the size of your scars.
Ease of Use
Quality
This ultra-thin silicone sheets contour well to your body, although it may be hard to keep on areas that move a lot like arms and joints.
As with most topical scar treatments, it will take 2-3 months before you see noticeable improvements with ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets. Meanwhile, about 60 percent of users are happy with this product based on Amazon customer reviews.
Pros
- It provides the same benefits found in silicone gels and creams: Improvement in the color, texture, and overall appearance of the scars.
- Proponents suggest that sheets might be more potent than creams and gels because the constant pressure inhibits the overproduction of collagen, which is responsible for the appearance of keloids and hypertrophic scars.
- It might be a more affordable scar treatment than other popular products in the market because you can wash the adhesive side and reuse it multiple times.
Cons
- The sheets are hard to keep on moving areas such as the arms and joints.
- Because everyone responds differently from topical products, some people notice significant improvement in the appearance of their scars, while others see no or very little change.
- As with most over-the-counter scar treatments, patience is the key to achieve good results from ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets. Aside from waiting 2-3 months before you see noticeable improvements, you may need other modalities such as scar massage to further achieve favorable scarring.
Conclusion of Our Mederma Reviews
We deem that Mederma scar reduction products deserve a 4-star rating with their reasonable price, ease of use, and visible improvements according to 70-80 percent of users.
As with most scar creams and gels, Mederma products work best when massage into the scars in an attempt to break up the scar tissue. Some doctors also recommend using other adjunct treatments such as silicone sheets to further help the scars fade into the background.
