10 Best Acne Scar Removal Creams 2024 in the US

If suffering from acne during puberty isn’t enough, you may also suffer from disfiguring scars, even after the acne pimple goes away. Depending on the severity, acne pimples can leave discolored skin--and that could either be due to just reddened skin, or actual pigment. There are also acne pimples that cause pitting (“ice-pick scars” or “rolling scars”), depressions, or raised scars (also known as atrophic, hypertrophic, or keloid scars). Severe scarring might require a drastic treatment, such as laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, or a chemical peel. Even if, in many cases, the scarring will become less noticeable over time, a young person will want to try to hide these unsightly scars, if not remove them entirely.

Fortunately, there are also topical creams that can aim to smooth out the appearance of acne scars. Since one person can suffer from different types of scars, you’ll probably need several acne scar treatments. You can find a number of over-the-counter products that will contain ingredients that moisturize the skin and soften scar tissue. Repeated use with these creams can provide lasting results. Many of these creams will also have antioxidants in the form of Vitamin E or Vitamin C. These will reduce the effects of skin damage from the sun or extreme weather. And by properly moisturizing the skin, it will prevent acne from occurring in the first place. 

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting an acne scar removal cream. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of acne scar removal cream,

• See useful tips about that particular type of acne scar removal cream,

• Read reviews of acne scar removal creams, and what customers are saying, 

• Select the right brand of acne scar removal cream, and 

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

We can classify acne scar removal creams by the active ingredients that they contain, and what each ingredient aims to achieve:

• Silicone: Silicone will moisturize your skin, which will also cause scars to fade. Silicone will also reduce the growth of scar tissue, which consists primarily of the protein collagen. One product whose principal ingredient is silicone is the Aroamas Advanced Scar Gel.

Aroamas Advanced Scar Gel

• Allantoin: Allantoin is a compound produced by chicken embryos, as well as in certain plants. It moisturizes and smoothes the skin, promotes cell growth, helps damaged skin heal, and is shown to remove excess growths of skin. This is a major ingredient in the Aliver Traditional Chinese Medicine Scar and Acne Mark Removal Gel Ointment.

Aliver TCM Scar And Acne Mark Removal Gel Ointment

• Omega-3 oils: Some creams have Omega-3 oils in them, derived from plant sources such as shea butter or coconut oil. Omega-3 oils have an antioxidant effect, to help the skin repair damage. It will also prevent unsightly keloid scar tissue from forming. An example of treatment with Omega-3 oil is the Honeydew Natural Scar Cream.

Honeydew Natural Scar Cream Formula

• Vitamin E and Vitamin A: Other important ingredients in the Honeydew Natural Scar Cream are Vitamin E--an antioxidant, preventing the skin from aging, which also helps the skin regenerate new cells. Also, there is Vitamin A from avocado oil. Vitamin A reduces the chances of skin tissue scarring. 

• Jojoba oil: Jojoba oil is another key ingredient in Honeydew’s Scar Cream. It is added to moisturize the skin so that it will not produce too much sebum. This overproduction of sebum is what causes acne pimples in the first place. So creams that moisturize the skin can eliminate the cause of acne, thus reducing the chances of scarring in the future.

• Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is used in a wide range of skincare products because it is an antiseptic and antibacterial ingredient, as well as serving as a moisturizer and astringent, which can seal the pores and keep impurities from entering. A product that employs tea tree oil is Keeva Organics Acne Scar Removal.

Keeva Organics Acne Scar Removal

• Onion extract: Mederma is a variety of skin creams manufactured by Merz Pharmaceuticals. Their creams are intended to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. The principal ingredient in Mederma is an onion extract, also known as Cepalin, which is seen to make scars look lighter and smoother. A well-known Mederma product is their Mederma PM Intensive Overnight Scar Cream.

Mederma PM Intensive Overnight Scar Cream

• Don’t just look at the price: Some acne scar removal creams might be less expensive, but will require more applications! If you have to apply a cream 4 times a day, not only will that be less convenient, but you’ll also end up using up your supply of cream more quickly. Therefore, Mederma Advanced Formula only requires one application per day--so even if it costs more initially, it will pay for itself.

• Use with moisturizer: People who use the Keeva Organics Acne Treatment saw that it was effective even if they suffered from painful cystic acne. But what was especially good about the Keeva product was that the formula has moisturizers, so as not to dry out your skin. 

• Patience to see results: People who used the Mederma Intensive Overnight Scar Cream said that it was a slow progression. The change was almost imperceptible--but when they compare pictures of their skin from before they started and after two months, the improvement was very noticeable!

• Some are part of a kit: There are scar treatment products that work in tandem with other products from the same company. For example, the Keeva Tea Tree Oil Acne Treatment Cream works with two other products: Their Keeva Face Wash cleanses your pores and removes any excess sebaceous oils, and the Keeva MD-grade Acne Serum, which provides nutrients for proper skin health.

• Can help with other types of scarring as well: Some of the treatments that we have discussed are to eliminate the causes of acne. But you’ll see that many of these treatments are also effective against scars from burns or scalds, surgical scars, scarring from insect bites or scrapes, and more. 

• Overnight scar cream: Mederma has the Mederma PM Intensive Overnight Scar Cream, specially designed to work at night while you sleep. Since the body repairs itself during sleep, the skin will try to reverse the damage done from exposure to the sun and the elements during the day. Thus, the Mederma PM formula uses collagen and peptides to nourish the skin, as well as antioxidants to remove free radicals that could age the skin.

• Honeydew is a maker of skincare products that strives to use natural ingredients that are also environmentally friendly. They make bath & body treatments, hair, skin, and personal care products, and even products for caring for your pet.

• Keeva makes a number of washes and creams to care for the skin. They make acne treatment cream and serum, face washes, and kits for acne treatment, including tree tea oil as an active ingredient.

• Mederma is a brand of skincare products. They have treatments for removing scars and stretch marks, as well as facial cleansers, facial toners, lotions, and more.

• Aroamas is based in Hamburg, New York. They make a number of hair & skincare products, including wart removers, nail fungus remover, hair repair kits, scar removal gel, and more.

• LanBeNa makes products for caring for the skin on the hands, feet, and face. They make face masks, serums, and creams, as well as blackhead removers and creams to make scars and stretch marks less pronounced.