Best OTC treatment for skin surface lumpectomy scarring (not involving lymphedema)

Dina

My lumpectomy back in 2014 went fine, without much surface scarring (the scars were cleverly hidden in a fold of my breast on the side). My lymphedema is another story. However, a good friend had her lumpectomy this past April, and has significant scarring, and is asking for advice on any OTC and natural remedies to reduce the scarring. There are plenty of OTC garbage products out there with parabens and fragrance (including Mederma - don't touch that stuff!). Has anyone had success with other products or remedies?

legaljen1969

I have found one thing that have significantly reduced my scarring appearance from mastectomy. I recently started using BoomSilk cream on my scars and they look a heck of a lot better now. They don't feel so tight either.
One of my mother's friends (in her 70's) was telling my mother that she had started using the Boom cosmetics by Cindy Joseph. I have been trying to use fewer cosmetics and chemicals on my body for sure. I got my three Boomsticks (Glow, Color and Glimmer). It's not cheap by any means, but my three little sticks have been in use since late April and I am maybe 1/2 way through each one. And I get more compliments about my skin looking healthy than ever before. People tell me "You look so rested." The Boom Glow is basically the Boom Silk in a solid stick form. That's what I started using first and then I started just using the Silk cream. It is pretty dense though, but a little goes a long way and that's why I like it.
There is no "medicinal" claim, but I wish I could show you the difference in my scarring from late June until now since I started using the Silk. I hate to sound like a commercial, but the difference has been huge for me.

I know quite a few people who love the Bio-Oil. I thought it helped a lot, and if the Boom gets too expensive I will definitely go back to my Bio Oil.

Dina

legaljen1969 - thank you - I will check into these!

MarcieB

An inexpensive option is cocoa butter. There is a cream called Palmers which combines cocoa butter and vitamin E. It appears to lighten the scars and keeps the skin from getting tight. If you google "cocoa butter for scars" you will be surprised at the options. I was aware of it because my mother faithfully applied it to a scar on my nose (from a bike accident) when I was a child. It worked for that!

ChicagoSandy

Both Mederma gel and Vit. E oil (from a punctured gelcap) work great on all my surgical scars.

gpgirl70

I just used aloe vera, coconut oil, and vitamin E after my mastectomy. During radiation, I used Relevum which has calendula and lidocaine. I had extreme radiation burns and the others weren't enough to get me through treatment comfortably. I still use Relevum because of neuropathy in feet and nerve pain in my chest area.

Dina

These are only surgical scars. She isn't doing any radiation (straight lanolin worked great for me w/ radiation burns- only I had to use a blow dryer to heat it up so it was spreadable - and messy as hell)!.

JustForToday

My power port scar was very ugly(raised and red). When I visited a lymphedema specialist she recommended a product called "ScarAway". It is a simple silicone sheet that sticks to the skin. I wore it round the clock, removing only to shower. I was surprised at the improvement it made in only a month. I used one box and decided to take a break. I recently purchased another box and find that is still making a slight improvement. I purchase at the local Walmart.

Ashera

I used a punctured vitamin E cap daily for several months, and then only occasionally when I remembered.
This was in 2016. It has completely disappeared.