Does Mederma Really Work?
Mederma is a product meant to soothe scars and make them less noticeable. Created by a company called Merz Pharmaceuticals, this topical gel’s active ingredient is called Allium cepa, which is basically onion extract. In this entry, I’ll try to answer questions like, “How does Mederma work?” “Does Mederma Really Work?” And “Does Mederma work on old scars?”
What is Scar Tissue?
Scar tissue is body tissue that replaces normal skin tissue when the area is injured; it is the result of the body’s healing process, and unless it’s really minor, all wounds will scar over to some degree.
The biggest problem most people have with scarring is that it’s obvious and usually unsightly. This is why there are a lot of different products available that aim to prevent scar tissue from forming in the first place, as well as encourage actual skin cell regeneration.
Mederma is one such product. In this entry, I hope to answer questions people might have about it. I’ll go on a question by question basis, so that the answers will be easier to find and all the bases will be sure to get covered.
How Does Mederma Work?
Allium cepa (which is basically onion extract), is Mederma’s active ingredient. It is both anti-inflammatory and can improve collagen organization. This active ingredient is supposedly what makes Mederma special. The anti-inflammatory property of allium cepa means that if an area of the skin is swollen, it can keep the swelling down and could help the collagen that keeps skin plump and supple so that unsightly, depressed scars are less pronounced or less likely to form.
Does Mederma Really Work?
Of course, now that we know what Mederma does, the next question would be whether or not it’s actually effective.
Generally, the online consensus is “no.” The product apparently doesn’t do much for scar tissue except maybe (eventually) make it feel slightly softer to the touch. Most reviewers say that to get the same effect, it would be better to use cheaper, more readily available products, like petroleum jelly.
There are some people who claim that Mederma does work though; as long as it’s applied daily and three to four times a day, over a period of two months for new scars, and three to six months for old scars.
Whether you’re in the “don’t bother” camp or the “buy it now!” camp though, be forewarned that like any other topical scar-relief product Mederma can be a bit pricey. For example, online, a tiny 0.7 oz tube of the product can set you back by as much as $13.40 USD.
Does Mederma Work on Old Scars?
Given the fact that most believe that the product doesn’t work at all, it’s highly doubtful that it’ll work on old scars, which are a lot harder to get rid of than new ones. Mederma proponents do say that it works on old scars though; it just takes a lot longer to take effect.
“How does Mederma work?” “Does Mederma really work?” and “Does Mederma work on old scars?” are all valid questions to ask, and in this entry, I hope that I’ve answered them adequately.
One thing that you should definitely keep in mind though; is that even though Mederma’s meant to be used on wounds that have already healed and closed up, you should never apply it to fresh, open wounds. It hurts. A lot.
My Husband bought this at the request of his physician to use on a recent post surgical scar. I have used it for the past two weeks on by chest which has been scarred and lined due to years of sunburn. I have noticed an improvment that is really very remarkable, all things considered. I had been using lotion on this area for months/years with no improvement whatsoever. Not only are the sunburn scars much less shiny, the lines are much impoved as well. I guess I am my own clinical trial.
I had a son 5 years ago and got horrible scars, never used anything but cocoa butter cream for about a month and that was it. A year ago I had another baby girl and it made the old scars a bit worse and I got a few new ones. Agin, did not use any, products to prevent scars.(My scars are not raised or purple nor red though.) I just used this product for about a week and even though it was about $19 for a 20g tube it was better than than having to buy creams that are a lot more expensive. This is truly working so far. I don’t believe it will completely erase my scars, but it working very good on it so far. I will buy one of the more expensive creams later to get rid of the scars completely. This is an awesome product to begin with. By the way, I’ve gotten awesome results in so little time even though I’ve only used it 2 times a day instead of three like it says. But do follow the directions.
I have been using Mederma for the past 1.5 months, 3-4 times a day as directed. I had my gallbladder removed and have several scars on my stomach from it that are red and raised. I have noticed ZERO difference despite my scars being new – just 3 months old when I started using the gel. I am very disappointed with the results (at least, I am assuming that is “new” because they do not actually give a definition of a new vs. old scar). I know I am supposed to continue for 8 weeks to get maximum results, but I will likely continue until I use up the tube (I probably have another 2 months worth). I want to to make sure none of it is wasted since I shelled out a decent amount of money for it. However, viewing the results to date, I am not expecting much of a difference.