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Is retinol good for scars?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 13, 2026

Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and are often touted as a solution for people that suffer from acne or hyperpigmentation. But for scar treatment, retinoids can be ideal for helping to remove texture.

Can retinol make scars worse?

Answer: Retin A does not make old acne scars worse

Retin A can actually help improve the appearance of acne scars, although it works much better on new scars than on old. Start using it slowly, twice a week at night time, and increase the number of days per week in such a way as to not irritate yours skin.

How long does retinol take to work on scars?

The thing is, prescription-strength retinoids can take three months for visible results, while over-the-counter retinol products can take six to 12 months to see really noticeable results.

How long does it take retinol to fade scars?

It might take two or three weeks of using Retin-A (treitinoin) to see any benefits. However, in some cases, it may take six weeks or more. Does Retin-A clear up acne scars? No, Retin-A is not effective in reducing acne scars.

What is best treatment for scars?

If you want to try an over-the-counter product, silicone gel or silicone sheets have the best evidence they can help reduce the appearance of scars. For more serious scars like keloids, other treatments like cryotherapy, laser resurfacing, or scar removal surgery may be an option.

22 related questions found

What really works on scars?

Treatments include surgery to remove the scar, steroid injections, or silicone sheets to flatten the scar. Smaller keloids can be treated using cryotherapy (freezing therapy using liquid nitrogen). You can also prevent keloid formation by using pressure treatment or gel pads with silicone when you are injured.

What are the 3 types of scars?

What are the different types of scars and treatment?

  • Keloid scars. These are thick, rounded, irregular clusters of scar tissue that grow at the site of a wound on the skin, but beyond the edges of the borders of the wound. ...
  • Hypertrophic scars. Hypertrophic scars are similar to keloid scars. ...
  • Contractures. ...
  • Adhesions.

Can retinol help pitted scars?

Retinoids + Glycolic Acid

It can also help boost collagen production which means it can help to get rid of pitted acne scars.

Can retinol make dark spots worse?

“If the retinol you're using is too strong for your skin causing inflammation, darker skin tones may have a higher risk of discoloration, or hyperpigmentation, from the use of it," she adds. Dr. Icecreamwala recommends starting with a retinol that is 0.3 or 0.5 percent.

Can I use retinol everyday?

Retinol can be used every day but needs time to work

After you've built up your skin's tolerance to retinol, it's perfectly safe to use every day. Even users in their 20s can see improvements to their skin when retinol is part of their daily routine.

Does retinol help keloid scars?

In vitro studies have demonstrated that retinoids can modulate collagen production and the proliferation of normal and keloidal fibroblasts. In vivo applications of 0.05% topical retinoic acid can lead to a reduction of hypertrophic scars in 50-100% of patients and of keloids in less than 20% of patients.

Can tretinoin remove scars?

Tretinoin can also be used to decrease the appearance of acne scarring. Since tretinoin speeds up cell turnover on your skin, it can encourage new cell growth at the site of your scarring. Tretinoin in several forms has been tested successfully as an effective way to treat acne scars.

Is retinol ruining my skin?

Using any form of retinol makes your skin more prone to sunburn. Sun damage combined with retinol burn is a recipe for redness or discoloration, inflammation, and more.

Can you use retinol on new scars?

Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and are often touted as a solution for people that suffer from acne or hyperpigmentation. But for scar treatment, retinoids can be ideal for helping to remove texture.

How do you get rid of pitted scars?

PIH can be improved with laser genesis, chemical peels, and micro needling. Ice-pick and boxcar scars can be improved with fractionated ablative laser, microneedling, subcision, and filler injections.

How can I remove scars from my face permanently?

Read on for 10 options to discuss with your skin care specialist.

  1. Over-the-counter (OTC) scar treatment cream. ...
  2. Facial massage. ...
  3. Chemical peels. ...
  4. Microdermabrasion. ...
  5. Dermabrasion. ...
  6. Microneedling. ...
  7. Fillers. ...
  8. Ablative laser resurfacing.

Does retinol fade acne scars?

Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that boosts skin exfoliation and prevents acne. It also promotes skin cell turnover and collagen production treating post-acne hyperpigmentation and minimizing the appearance of current acne scars, according to Deignan.

Can retinol fade hyperpigmentation?

Retinol can be applied topically to lighten the skin and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. This over-the-counter (OTC) retinoid can help minimize the appearance of hyperpigmentation in under six months when applied correctly and consistently.

Will retinol fade dark spots?

Retinol also stimulates collagen production, which is another way it diminishes dark spots. Not only will dark spots be reduced, but wrinkles and sagging skin will also begin to diminish, and the effects of retinol products will continue to work just as effectively over time.

How do you fix indented scars?

Dermal fillers: Dermal fillers such as JUVÉDERM™ Injectable Gel and Restylane® can be used to add volume to recessed areas of the skin, such as indented scars. Although results are temporary, treatments can safely be repeated as necessary.

What pitted scars?

What are pitted acne scars? “Known as atrophic scars in the world of dermatology, such scars form a hollow pit or indentation on the facial skin as a result of recurrent moderate-to-severe acne," says Dr Madhuri Agarwal, founder of Yavana Aesthetics Clinic.

Can pitted scars go away?

The pitted scars are particularly troublesome. Not only can they require a variety of treatments, but they can also take quite a while to fade. And, in some cases, they'll never disappear completely.

What causes scars to widen?

Widened scar formation is thought to result from wound edge separation with tension perpendicular to the healing skin wound. The risks of widened and hypertrophic scarring are increased in the areas of the body where tension across the skin is greater.

Is vitamin E good for scars?

Conclusions: This study shows that there is no benefit to the cosmetic outcome of scars by applying vitamin E after skin surgery and that the application of topical vitamin E may actually be detrimental to the cosmetic appearance of a scar.

How long do scars take to fade?

It can take up to 12-18 months after your injury or operation for a scar to heal. A normal scar will become darker initially and after a period of time this will start to fade. Dark scars can remain for years or indefinitely in people with darker skin.