Self-harm scars can be faded using a combination of at-home treatments and professional procedures, depending on the scar’s age, color, and texture. No single method erases scars completely, but consistent treatment can make them significantly less noticeable over months. The approach that works best for you depends on whether your scars are raised, indented, red, or discolored.
Start With Silicone Products
Silicone gel sheets and silicone-based gels are the most accessible and well-studied first step. Clinical trials have shown that silicone products reduce scar thickness, redness, and overall elevation compared to untreated skin. They work by trapping moisture against the scar surface, which signals the skin to slow down excess collagen production and soften the tissue underneath.
Silicone sheets are designed to be worn for up to 24 hours at a time, then washed and reused. Consistency matters more than the specific brand. You’ll typically need to use them daily for at least two to three months before seeing meaningful changes. Silicone gels that dry into a thin film are a good alternative for areas where sheets won’t stay put, like forearms during daily activity.
Scar Massage for Texture and Tightness
Massaging scars with gentle, sustained pressure helps break down the dense collagen fibers that make scar tissue feel hard or raised. There are three useful motions: linear strokes along the length of the scar to reduce skin tension, circular motions to break down fibrous tissue underneath, and cross-friction strokes (perpendicular to the scar) to improve mobility and prevent the scar from sticking to deeper layers of tissue.
For best results, massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You can use a plain moisturizer, vitamin E oil, or a silicone gel as a lubricant. The pressure should be firm enough that the scar blanches slightly under your fingertip but not so hard that it causes pain. Scar massage works best once the skin has fully closed and healed over. On older, mature scars, it gradually softens the tissue and can improve both feel and appearance.
Over-the-Counter Creams and Gels
Many scar creams contain onion extract, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. It works by lowering histamine levels in scar tissue and improving the way collagen is organized. In clinical studies, onion extract combined with allantoin (a compound that promotes the removal of dead tissue and speeds up healthy skin regeneration) showed measurable improvement in scar pigmentation, relief, and pliability compared to no treatment.
Vitamin C serums can also help with discoloration. Vitamin C inhibits excess melanin production, which is useful if your scars are darker than the surrounding skin. Look for a stable form of vitamin C at a concentration of 10 to 20 percent, and apply it daily to clean skin before sunscreen.
Protect Scars From the Sun
UV exposure is one of the fastest ways to darken a scar and make it more visible. Scar tissue lacks the normal distribution of pigment-producing cells, so it reacts to sunlight differently than healthy skin. A scar that might have faded to near your skin tone can instead turn noticeably darker or redder after sun exposure.
Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 on any scar that’s exposed to sunlight, and reapply throughout the day. SPF 30 or higher is a safer bet for extended time outdoors. Physical barrier options like clothing, adhesive bandages, or silicone sheets also work well. This is especially important during the first one to two years after a scar forms, when pigment changes are most likely to become permanent.
Professional Options for Raised Scars
If your scars are noticeably raised (hypertrophic or keloid), a dermatologist can inject a corticosteroid directly into the scar tissue. This softens and flattens the scar by reducing inflammation and slowing collagen overproduction. Injections are typically given every four to six weeks, and response rates range from 50 to 100 percent for scar flattening. Recurrence is possible, with rates between 9 and 50 percent, so some people need maintenance treatments.
Pulsed dye laser treatment is another option for scars that are persistently red or purple. This type of laser targets blood vessels in the scar tissue, delivering short bursts of heat that destroy the excess vessels responsible for the color. The surrounding skin stays intact. Multiple sessions are usually needed, spaced several weeks apart.
Professional Options for Indented Scars
Some self-harm scars heal as shallow grooves or depressions rather than raised lines. Microneedling is one of the most effective treatments for this type of scar. The procedure uses a device with fine needles to create thousands of tiny punctures in the skin’s surface, which triggers the body to produce new collagen as it heals. The new collagen gradually fills in the depression from below, improving the texture over several sessions.
Recovery from microneedling is minimal. Redness and mild swelling typically last one to two days with no interference in daily routines. Rolling and broad indented scars respond better than very narrow, deep ones. Most people see improvement after three to six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart.
Fractional laser resurfacing works on a similar principle, using laser energy instead of needles to create controlled micro-injuries that stimulate collagen remodeling. It can address both texture and discoloration in a single treatment. Fractional lasers require a bit more downtime than microneedling, with redness lasting up to a week, but they can produce more dramatic results per session.
What to Expect With Timing
Newer scars that are still pink or red respond faster to treatment than older, mature scars. Silicone and topical treatments can begin once the wound has fully closed and any scabs have fallen off naturally. For professional treatments like laser or microneedling, most providers prefer to wait until the scar has matured somewhat, usually several months after the skin has healed.
Scar fading is slow. Most at-home approaches take three to six months of consistent daily use to show visible changes. Professional treatments are faster per session but still require multiple visits over months. Combining approaches (for example, silicone sheets plus daily massage plus sunscreen) tends to produce better results than any single method alone. Older scars that have been stable for years can still be improved, though they generally require more sessions of professional treatment to see the same degree of change.