Moisturizers are great to use while the burn scar is still fresh. They’ll help the scar recede and prevent it from growing large and unsightly. However, do wait until any blistering has healed before applying a moisturizer to the scar.

Emollient creams are heavier and thicker than moisturizers, although not as heavy as an ointment. Purchase an OTC emollient cream at any large drugstore or pharmacy.

Wearing a large-brimmed hat if the burn is on your face or neck. Wearing loose clothing that covers the scarring if it’s on your body. Applying sunscreen (at least 30 SPF) to the burn if you can’t cover it with clothing.

In order for the silicone gel to work, it’s important that you keep the burn scar and surrounding skin clean. Wash your burn scar with soap and water before you apply the silicone gel sheet. If you don’t, you’ll trap irritants and bacteria under the gel sheet and risk infecting the scar. Do not apply silicone gel sheets to an open burn blister.

These professionals can help you figure out the best course of action for your particular burn scars.

If you’ve seen a burn-scar therapist, ask them to recommend a massage artist who has worked with burn victims before.

If the burn scar is in an area that you cannot reach, ask a friend or family member to massage you.

Talk with your doctor or burn-scar therapist to find a doctor who can perform the laser scar removal. The therapist may recommend that you receive laser treatments in addition to—or instead of—massages. While combining laser treatments with massage won’t necessarily help you get rid of your scar tissue any faster, the added massages will help loosen the scar tissue in ways that laser treatments won’t.

Thick, raised, smooth burn scars are medically referred to as “keloid” scars. In some cases, keloid scars may expand and grow past the limits of the initial burn. [12] X Trustworthy Source FamilyDoctor. org Family-focused medical advice site run by the American Academy of Family Doctors Go to source

However, surgery can also have cosmetic benefits by reducing the darkness and size of burn scars.

Other types of surgery often performed on burn scars include tissue expansion and dermabrasion. Performing a tissue expansion allows doctors to stretch out the skin beneath your scar tissue and, eventually, to scrape off the scar tissue, leaving healthy skin tissue in its place. In a dermabrasion, the doctor will scrape off the top layer of your burn scar to smooth the scar’s overall appearance.