Does Neosporin Scar Solution work?

September 26, 2005 4:26 AM

Has anyone here ever used Neosporin Scar Solution?

I'm asking this anonymously because I used to cut myself; to anyone who sees them, my scars are obviously self-inflicted, but they stay (mostly) out of sight under my sleeves. But I'd like to start wearing tank tops and going to the beach, so I'm trying out these Neosporin Scar Solution strips. According to the instructions you need to use them for at least 4 weeks before you start to notice "gradual improvements," and at least 8 weeks "for best results." I've read this thread about stretch marks and topical/laser treatments, but I don't have health insurance or much in the way of money at this time to explore anything more expensive. I'm also very paranoid about actually seeing a doctor about this because of my history of depression and self-mutilation -- I'm better now and taking an antidepressant, but I literally cannot afford to have yet another well-meaning doctor come along, see my scars, and decide that I need to be committed or put under observation for my own good (I still owe thousands of dollars in emergency room bills from the last time that happened). Will these scar strips work, or did I essentially buy an expensive box of Band-Aids? If so, what are some non-prescription, inexpensive alternatives, and how long might it take for results to be visible? If it matters, my scars are between one and six years old or so, and a few of them are several inches long and raised. The more recent ones are still pink. I expect I'll have to save up for laser surgery, but it'll be years before I can afford that.

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (12 answers total)

You might try Vitamin E Oil (available at a store like GNC). I don't know if it was coincidental, but I applied it to an injury I had, after it had done it's initial healing but was still pink, and the scar is not pronounced at all. Your mileage may vary. In reading about it, some people pass it off as useless, some find it a miracle. If it counts for anything the ER doc suggested it when my stitches were taken out.

The stuff I got is kinda gloopy and sticky, sort of the consistency of warm honey. Might make things messy for your sleeves -- maybe cover with a dressing ? My injury was above my eyebrow and I just applied the stuff once I got home and knew I wasn't headed back out. Apply with a q-tip. I'm not sure for how long it should be applied, I think I did it for a few months.
posted by GreenTentacle at 5:17 AM on September 26, 2005

I haven't used that particular brand. I have used Mederma, if that helps you any. It seemed to help, but it was a new scar. (My dermatologist recommended it). I believe older scars take longer. YMMV. Good luck to you.
posted by 6:1 at 5:19 AM on September 26, 2005

Maderma, and Neosporin Scar, and I think even Vitamin E oil all work, but they work slowly. Maderma says that you should apply it for 6 months, for example.
posted by zpousman at 5:27 AM on September 26, 2005

I second Vitamin E, except I used a cream.

I was in a wicked car accident and had 90 stiches from my left eyebrow to the top of my head. (Think Herman Munster.)

I used the cream morning & night mostly to my forehead for months and it worked well. I applied it in a thin layer and it wasn't noticeable.

Best of luck to you!
posted by UncleHornHead at 8:05 AM on September 26, 2005

I too had a herman munster scar running right up my head. Since I am scalp blessed (read balding) I very worried about how this would heal. This link helped me very much and now the scar is mostly gone. Basically, the trick is to religiously keep it moist/oily. It's amazing how the body can heal itself.
posted by batboy at 8:52 AM on September 26, 2005

A few months of glycolic acid or TCA peels should smooth the scars out considerably.
posted by 4easypayments at 10:06 AM on September 26, 2005

I found that tanning really minimized my scars. It's not the healthiest thing for your skin, sure, but all you need is your back porch and a sunny day. That's about as cheap as it gets.
posted by nadawi at 10:39 AM on September 26, 2005

You can also just buy Vitamin E caplets and break them open, rather than buying the cream. It supposedly works better.

I can't find a link or a manufacturer, but a few years ago at a health food co-op I bought a jar of "Healthy Kid Balm" because some sort of stinging plant had attacked me on a hike and my legs were a MESS -- it looked like I had a bad case of poison ivy, though it didn't itch. In any event, within three days the cuts and scars had disappeared, and many old shaving injuries also looked much better.

I wish I could find the exact product for you. I do remember it had a huge percentage of both calendula and comfrey (they were the first two ingredients listed), both of which are good for healing skin problems. If you're near a Whole Food or natural foods co-op, it might be worth checking out their selection.

(You'll want to look for things geared toward "promoting healthy skin" with the consistency of petroleum jelly, or just started picking things up and looking for high concentrations of calendula -- I know that sounds a bit obvious, but given that none of these products can make any claims about their effectiveness, the labels can be hard to decipher. The balm I bought said only "Apply to desired location as often as is effective" and had no other info about what it did!)
posted by occhiblu at 10:47 AM on September 26, 2005

And in case you're interested but aren't near a hippie co-op: The "Calendula & Comfrey Healing Balm" here is the kind of thing I'm talking about, through I don't know that product in particular.
posted by occhiblu at 11:08 AM on September 26, 2005

I too have used just vitamin E caplets broken open. It was the doctor's idea, too. My cut & the subsequent scar were small so I just poked a hole in the caplet with a pin and squeezed out a few drops. It worked pretty well, though I did have to keep using it for weeks after the stitches were out. As GreenTentacle says, though, you will definitely want to cover it up with a bandage or something before putting on long sleeves. You could also just use it at home when you have a tshirt or a tank top on.

I would probably use that in conjuction with the Neosporin strips, personally, especially if you can wear the strips during the day under your shirt and then the vitamin E at night at home.
posted by librarina at 11:08 AM on September 26, 2005

While I am not a cutter, I look like I am. I have scars up and down my arms from a toxic mix of taking a lot of inhaled steroids (asthma meds) and being super clumsy (burning myself on the oven/iron/etc). I am always really embarrassed to wear short sleeved shirts and stuff so I tried out the neosporin scar strips. They did not work for me, unfortunately. I find that instant-tan help lessen the appearance.

Incidentally, I was just reading an article about a drug called topamax that is used to treat depression and bi-polar but it works overtime lessening the appearance of scars. Odd, huh? If/when you do get insurance again, you might want to ask your doctor about it.
posted by necessitas at 6:39 PM on September 26, 2005

Are they raised or flat? Lighter or pinker/redder than the surrounding skin?

If they're raised, definitely try taping silicone sheeting onto it (you can get it from a dermatologist). Use paper tape to adhere it instead of that skinny shiny white medical version of duct tape--the paper tape peels off your skin with less pain and less sticky glue residue left behind. The pressure from the sheeting works somehow to flatten the top surface until it's level with the surrounding skin. I think the Neosporin strips are something like this too, but not as thick and heavy-duty--however, I've never handled one of them and can't say for sure. Mederma works in a similar way--it creates a tight film over the surface to exert pressure, but in a liquid/gel form that hardens (a little) as it dries, thus creating pressure. It did jack shit for my scar, but then again I've got a doozy of a keloid.

If they're lighter, try self-tanning or even actual tanning. If they're reddish, try cortisone cream or anti-inflammatories, and give it lots and lots of time--if you're fair-skinned, it can take a long, long time to get back to a normal color.

Finally, vitamin E cream certainly can't hurt. And whatever you do, do not try laser treatments. They're insanely painful and completely useless.
posted by Asparagirl at 11:04 PM on September 26, 2005