10 Best Scar Creams to Help Fade Both Old and New Marks

Choosing the best scar creams can make a big difference in how your skin repairs itself. Scars are a completely natural part of recovery, whether they come from a breakout, a kitchen mishap, surgery, or that time you got a little too bold with your curling iron. And while there’s no shame in having them, it’s also totally okay to want to help them fade. The good news is that today’s scar creams go way beyond basic moisturizers. They’re packed with ingredients that hydrate, soothe, and support the healing process.

“There are lots of options in this area, but the best way to choose a formula is to assess what your needs and goals are first,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. Joshua Korman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Northern California, agrees—and adds that understanding your scar’s characteristics is key. “It’s important to identify your scar: new or old, color (how red, how pigmented), texture (raised or flat), and if they are bothersome, like itchy or painful," Understanding the type of scar allows you to focus on the treatment that works best for you, as different scars don't always react the same way to various ingredients or methods.

Why we love it: Tronque Scar Concentrate is a vitamin C-rich oil that goes beyond typical scar creams. “I love it because it’s an oil as opposed to the usual cream, which some patients actually prefer,” says Dr. Chacon. “It’s supercharged with botanical extracts like algae and vitamins A and C to reduce scar damage.” The formula features four types of vitamin C—including tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate—for serious brightening, collagen support, and skin-smoothing power, plus bakuchiol (a gentle retinol alternative), pink algae, and 26 bioactive botanicals. You can use it all over your body, layer it under your moisturizer, and reapply as often as needed.