I've been using scar patches for three months and there's been no change. Should I continue?

I've been using scar patches for three months, but when I look in the mirror, the scar seems to be still the same. Is the product ineffective, or are my expectations wrong? Before deciding to throw it away or continue, take two minutes to break this down.

First, figure out what you want the scar patch to do. 

The effectiveness of silicone scar products is supported by a large amount of research, but its strengths are clearly defined: preventing hyperplasia, softening hardened scars, reducing itching and pain, flattening scars, and lightening their color.

Its limitations are also clear: shrinking a 10-centimeter scar to 5 centimeters, making an already sunken scar grow back, or completely erasing the existence of a scar. It changes the "texture" of the scar—soft, flat, and faint—but it has little effect on changing its "shape"—width and length. If your expectation is "it will be invisible after three months," then it's not a problem with the product, but rather a flawed goal.

If there's no change after three months, first check these four things.

First, did you actually apply it for the required amount of time each day? The instructions say 20 hours a day, but many people only use it for a few hours in reality. They peel it off at work, forget about it when they sleep, and the effective time for three months might only be about one month. 

Second, did you clean and dry the scar before applying the patch? Oil and skincare product residue on the skin will cause the silicone patch to float in the air, making it a waste of time.

Third, did you apply the silicone gel to the correct type of scar? It's effective for hypertrophic red and hard scars; silicone gel is basically ineffective for pitted acne scars, stretch marks, and atrophic scars. If you use it on the wrong type, you won't see any results.

Fourth, is the scar still red? If it is still red, it means it is still in the active period, and continuing to apply the treatment is meaningful; if it has turned white or gray and is fully mature, then its room for improvement is limited, and expectations need to be adjusted, or even other methods should be considered.

Maybe it's working, you just haven't noticed. 

The improvement of scars is slow and gradual; you can't see any difference when you look in the mirror every day. Has the itching lessened? Has it softened when you press it? Has the color changed from bright red to dark pink? These changes at the "sensory level" often appear earlier than changes in the contour.

The most reliable way to judge is by taking photos: take one photo every two weeks from the same angle and under the same lighting, and compare them side by side. Three months of comparison photos are better than daily subjective impressions. 

In what situations should we stop waiting and consider escalating the process? 

If a scar continues to grow larger and harder, or even extends beyond the original wound area and into normal skin, this is a tendency for keloids, requiring intervention from a dermatologist or plastic surgeon; if a scar crosses a joint and pulls on or restricts movement, early intervention is necessary; and if the pain and itching are severe and affect sleep, don't try to tough it out.

In these cases, options include laser therapy, drug injection, and pressure therapy. Silicone patches can continue to be used as a basic treatment, but not the only one. 

Another often overlooked partner: sunscreen. New scars exposed to UV rays will show significantly worse pigmentation, becoming darker and harder to fade. While the area covered by silicone bandages is naturally protected from the sun, the areas not covered and the times when the bandages are removed during the day still require diligent sun protection. For three months, consistent sun protection is an invisible half of the solution.

One more thing to note: there's no need to use scar patches and scar gels together. Choose one and use it consistently; that's better than applying them to both sides without getting them properly applied.

For more information on Innomed® Silicone Scar Dressing , Refer to the Previous Articles. If you have customized needs, you are welcome to contact us; You Wholeheartedly. At longterm medical, we transform this data by Innovating and Developing Products that Make Life easier for those who need loving care.

Editor: kiki Jia