Do Silicone Scar Sheets Actually Work?

Jenna Ryu
·4 min read

Natasa Ivancev/Getty Images

Welcome to Ask a Derm, a series from SELF in which board-certified dermatologists answer your pressing questions about skin, hair, and nail health. For this installment, we tapped Shasa Hu, MD, the director of the cosmetic division at the University of Miami Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. Her specialties include skin cancer detection and treatment, concerns of aging and ethnic skin, and skin rejuvenation.

Especially if you don’t have access to pricey lasers or a top-notch dermatologist, scars can be really hard to get rid of once they’ve set in—which is why it helps to act fast. And if you’ve searched for the best over-the-counter treatments online, you’ve likely come across silicone scar sheets.

These soft, clear dressings look a lot like hydrocolloid bandages (which can help promote wound healing), but they’re not quite the same. Silicone sheets are specifically designed to fade raised scars and prevent new ones from forming, Shasa Hu, MD, board-certified dermatologist and associate professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, tells SELF. And to answer your most pressing question, yes, they really can work, Dr. Hu confirms—but there are a few caveats to consider before you add them to cart.

Basically, when your skin gets injured (from a cut, popped pimple, burn, whatever), cells called fibroblasts produce collagen to “fill in” and repair the damaged area, she explains. This process explains why most wounds are able to heal on their own (even if it takes a while). But sometimes, your body can pump out too much collagen, resulting in a scar that’s thick, hard, raised, and impossible to hide.

That’s where silicone sheets can really come in handy. Not only do they physically protect your wound from irritants (like dirt, bacteria, and friction) that can mess with its recovery, but these dressings also create the perfect environment for flattening raised scars (and preventing new ones from forming), Dr. Hu explains. That’s because “silicone is a semi-occlusive,” she says—meaning it forms a breathable barrier that’s thick enough to keep the area hydrated without oversaturating it. (Too much moisture can stimulate more of that collagen production we mentioned earlier, research shows, while too little can slow the healing process.) So, silicone’s unique properties create a happy medium to help “calm” overactive fibroblasts, Dr. Hu explains, which can prevent and flatten scars.

In theory, this all sounds promising. But how well these sticky strips will work for you depends on the type of skin issue you’re dealing with. Again, Dr. Hu recommends them only for raised marks like hypertrophic, keloid, and post-surgical scars (resulting from a C-section, for example, or skin cancer removal). But silicone sheets may not improve the look of flatter blemishes, like dark spots from popped pimples. (In these cases, the issue isn’t collagen buildup; it’s hyperpigmentation—and for that, you’d be better off trying brightening treatments instead.)

The same goes for a wound that isn’t fully healed or closed yet. “When it’s still open or draining, silicone scar sheets could increase your risk of infection,” Dr. Hu says, by potentially trapping bacteria and other irritants into the broken skin. On the flip side, she cautions that “they’re unlikely to do much for old scars you’ve had for more than 8–12 months.” By this point, the healing process is basically complete and collagen production has slowed, so silicone won’t have a noticeable effect.

So if you’re dealing with a keloid or some other raised scar, silicone sheets (and tapes) are definitely worth a shot, according to Dr. Hu. They’re relatively affordable (around $10-$15) and generally well-tolerated (certain ingredients in scar gels, Bio-Oil, and other OTC topical treatments may aggravate sensitive skin). That said, she recommends sticking with just medical-grade silicone—especially if you’re dealing with a newly healed wound—and avoiding potentially irritating additives, just to be safe.

You may have also read that scar sheets are reusable, which is technically true—you just rinse them under lukewarm water, wash with mild soap, and air-dry overnight. But even if you follow these instructions, Dr. Hu warns there’s still a risk of bacteria or dead skin cells lingering on the strip, which could trigger breakouts, irritation, or even an infection. Plus, the cleaning process can wear down the adhesive, making the sheet less sticky and more likely to slip off. So, you’re probably better off just cutting a fresh piece after each use, she says.

Speaking of best practices, proper application is important too: Start with freshly cleansed, completely dry skin, “then cut the sheet to a square that’s large enough to cover the spot” she adds. Above all else, you’ll need to keep the adhesive on for at least 12 hours—though Dr. Hu recommends wearing it all day for, uh, at least 8 to 12 weeks if you can. (It can take several months for the silicone to regulate and lower collagen production, she explains.)

Obviously, this long-term commitment might be disappointing, especially if you were dreaming of an overnight miracle. But here’s the silver lining: Since silicone sheets are transparent, they blend into your skin, making them surprisingly easy to wear every day without drawing attention. And with time, consistency, and a little patience, Dr. Hu says you should start seeing a significantly flatter, less noticeable mark.

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Originally Appeared on Self

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