Al Pacino's Sexy in Scar Face? Sexy Stretch Marks? Change out of this Zone
Written: Feb 11 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Can be used as an expensive sunscreen.
Cons: Doesn't work.
The Bottom Line: Save your money. I am still recommending Mederma - certainly over Scar Zone.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Sudden Change Scar Zone Topical Scar Diminishing C... |
I updated my review of Mederma 2 years ago and my 4 star rating stood. So why since I liked it did I try Sudden Change Scar Zone Topical Scar Diminishing Cream?
Like many products after awhile I like to change and try others. I am at a high risk for Melanoma so I get “things“ removed about every 6 months. The scars are small but I still would prefer not having them. In addition I have old scars that have gotten better both over time and perhaps with the help of Mederma.
When I first used Mederma I got a sample of it from my doctor who also told me that I could use Vitamin E. I have included a bit of research in this review. Skip it if you want. I have the heading in bold. I will attempt to review these two products to help you make a decision on which to buy.
I never had any negative reactions to either product however it cannot be used on open wounds so after your stitches come out you will have to wait a few days. Scar Zone costs $10.99 for 1 ounce versus about $18.00 for a .70-ounce tube of Mederma. Scar Zone is on the shelf. Mederma at the time I bought it was behind the counter.
What is Sudden Change Scar Zone?
Scar Zone is made with Octinoxate 7.50% Octinoxate is also known as Octyl Methoxycinnamate is a sunscreen agent used to protect skin primarily from the sun's UVB rays.
The other active ingredient is Zinc Oxide. Both active ingredients in a nutshell are sunscreens. Mederma is made with Cepalin™ “a proprietary botanical extract derived from onions, specifically formulated to help with the appearance of scars.“ http://www.mederma.com/
These are important things to know that I did not pay attention to when buying Scar Zone. We will see if the inactive ingredients are more than sunscreen since I can buy sunscreen for a lot less money!
Scar Zone claims to reduce the visibility and smooth, soften and diminish the appearance of scars from surgery, burns, acne and stretch marks. The company claims that the formulation has been checked out and tested by a plastic surgeon. Scar Zone we are told helps raised and discolored scars become flatter, softer, smoother and closer to your skins own natural tone. We are told that it works on healed and older scars too.
It claims that it can be worn under makeup and will not stain clothing. This claim is true I found.
There is a money back guarantee if returned within 6-8 weeks. I did not do this since I wanted to give it more than 2 months. Keep your receipt!
I was skeptical when I first used Mederma because I have other scars for which I used silicone sheets. For those of you who do not know what they are they are strips with silicone in them that are supposed to adhere to your skin and are reusable. I found them to help in the short term, but the appearance of the scar returned as soon as I stopped using the sheets.
The claims Mederma makes are similar. However you will need to use Mederma 3-4 times a day. Scar Zone is rubbed into the skin twice a day.
What is in it:
Other than sunscreen (SPF of 15) it has Capric Triglyceride , PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate , PEG-22 Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer , Hydrogenated Polydecene , PEG-8 , Hydrogenated Castor Oil , Dimethicone , Cetyl Dimethicone , Cyclopentasiloxane , Dimethicone Copolyol , Allium Cepa Bulb Extract Onion , Sodium Chloride , Tocopheryl Acetate , Phytonadione , Lauryl Glucoside , Silica , Propylene Glycol , DMDM Hydantoin.
I am not a scientist but since these are inactive ingredients I imagine there is not a lot of anything in them. Obviously something like castor oil is intended to soften the scars.
Although I cannot find silicone in the list of inactive ingredients (It must be buried in another name.) the brochure that is still in the box says that “Scar Zone’s formula with silicone works on new wounds that are healed….“ In fact I just looked at the box and SPF 15 protection with moisturizers and silicone is stated on the box. If there were enough silicone in this product it might have a chance. I do not believe there is.
Research:
Without giving you scads of information, like Mederma I was very interested in the research on this product. After all can I really say it works unless I have a clone with a scar using nothing or Vitamin E? Has there been a valid scientific study done with a placebo group? Well this is what I found.
First about Vitamin E:
In 1999, University of Miami investigators studied 15 patients who had undergone skin cancer removal surgery. They discovered that there is no cosmetic benefit in applying vitamin E after skin surgery, and that use of vitamin E may actually make the scar look worse. In 90% of cases, topical vitamin E either had no effect on or actually worsened the cosmetic appearance of scars, and 33% of patients developed contact dermatitis" (Dermatol Surg 1999;25:311-315).
I will not go into the research on Mederma in this review; you can read it at the link above if you like but I will summarize it. Adult volunteers with scars 3 weeks to 8 years old were enrolled in a study to determine the effectiveness of Mederma.
Subjects were randomly assigned to the placebo group or the Mederma group. Each subject’s photographs were blindly evaluated by a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine visual improvement of the scar.
The results were that scars treated with Mederma were significantly softer in appearance
http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/sh/health/stories/health-20001219-181747.html
Please note with the above...we have the words scars can appear smoother and also note that we have no idea how many people were in this study.
I could find no similar studies on Sudden Change Scar Zone.
The problem with something like a scar is there is no way of knowing that if left alone after 2 or 3 months would the scar have healed in the same manner without any product?
How does it smell and feel?
It comes in a tube with the tiniest of openings. The fact is you do not need a lot of Scar Zone. It is a thick white cream. It is thick enough that you will have to rub it in which is fine since it should be rubbed in. Rubbing or massaging areas with scars I was told by my doctor is a good thing to do. It really has little odor. Unlike Mederma my skin has never peeled after it has been on for about 1 hour. I wondered back then if perhaps the Mederma was taking of the top layer of the scar, which would make it flatter, but that was a totally non-scientific guess.
Who should use it?
Although this should be kept out of reach of children it can be used on kids unless they are under 6 months old. Then you must contact your doctor. Do not use it if your face gets irritated.
It if for external use only; be careful to avoid your eyes.
My experience with Scar Zone:
The fact that I have had this for at least 6 months and it is far from empty tells you that I stopped using it after about 3 months. I just saw no changes at all in the small scars that I had from my dermatologist and the older scars I have.
I cannot find anything really about this product that has any redeeming qualities except that I can use it as a sunscreen which I never though about doing until I wrote this review! I thought that we might be throwing our money away using Mederma but for $17 I thought it was worth the chance and I did find it helped. I bought at least 3 tubes over the last several years. I would never buy Scar Zone again or recommend it.
The product did not work for me.
Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question.
Recommended:
No
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Member: Jo
Location: On a bluff overlooking the ocean.
Reviews written: 1660
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Spent one glorious day on the beach. The sun came out!
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