With clients like Olivia Palermo, Zoë Kravitz, Selena Gomez and Jourdan Dunn, celebrity dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross is considered to be one of the country’s most well known and respected cosmetic dermatologists. He’s always on the cutting edge when it comes to treatments – both over-the-counter (OTC) and in-office – and his skincare line, Dr. Dennis Gross, has been a Sephora bestseller since its inception. While classic OTC treatments like Mederma Scar Cream Plus SPF 30 can be very helpful, there are a number of other things that can be done to mitigate a C-section scar and Dr. Gross’ practice has decades worth of experience in helping his clients do just that.
“Scars are a very normal, natural way that the body heals itself, so there’s not much you can do to avoid scarring from a C-section,” says Dr. Gross. “However, you do have some control after the procedure in the healing process.” Once the scar starts to heal a little bit, Dr. Gross suggests applying vitamin C to the area – this ingredient has been clinically proven to show improvement in scar healing. He recommends applying it in serum form before the scar becomes too hard.
It’s also important to remember that genetics can play a role – as can the skill of the doctor performing the procedure and the procedure itself when it comes to how much or how little you scar from your C-section. Age is another factor in scar healing. “The older you are, the harder it is to heal which results in a worse scar. If you have multiple C-sections, you can ask your doctor to make the incision over the same place as the first C-section to decrease the number of scars.”
Lasers are an option, too.
In-office, the V beam laser is Dr. Gross’ first choice for treating anything related to scars and stretch marks from childbirth. “It’s non-invasive and can reduce redness and thinning of the skin. If the a C-section scar is too thick it may be preceded by surface injections with a cortisone solution followed by the laser.”
To take things further at home, combine the aforementioned vitamin C serum with a chemical exfoliant like the Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment, which uses a combination of alpha and beta hydroxy acids, bakuchiol, enzymes and hydrators to exfoliated the top layer of dead, dull skin and stimulate collagen production. [side note: while you’re at it, use a Alpha Beta face peel. It’s the only two-step peel on the market meaning it’s as close as you’ll get to mimicking an in-office peel and the results are instant – every new mom deserves glowing skin!]
The Clinical Grade IPL Dark Spot Correcting Serum is another option to add to your at-home arsenal. It’s formulated with a concentration of 10% L-ascorbic acid, lactic acid, kojic acid and arbutin to stimulate collagen production and also diminish any discoloration that may have occurred with the scarring.
Lastly, Dr. Gross highlights that it’s imperative to always use an all-physical SPF on the area of a C-section scar when it is exposed to sun – the sun’s rays can darken scars, making them more visible. I like the All-Physical LightWeight Wrinkle Defense SPF 30.
