How to Prevent Scars (And Why Everyone Gets the Sun Protection Part Wrong)
By Breelyn VanLeeuwen, PA-C
December 2025
I have been working as a PA for 15 years now. Some of that in reconstructive facial plastics which is where I really saw what happens when scar care goes right versus when it doesn't.
And honestly, the most frustrating cases aren't the complicated ones. It's the people who do everything correctly with wound care and then just completely ignore sun protection. Or they use the wrong sunscreen thinking they're covered.
Six months later they're asking about laser treatments for hyperpigmentation that didn't need to happen.
So here's what actually works.
If You're in a Hurry
Keep the wound moist. A wound heals best when it is moist. Aquaphore or Petroleum Jelly will work.Â
Then silicone. Has to be 100% silicone, not the "contains silicone" stuff. Gel or sheets, either one works depending on where the scar is and the age of the person.
Sun protection for at least a year. That means fully cover it up with a bandaid for example or with TRUE mineral sunscreen and I mean actually mineral, not the kind that says mineral on the label but has butyloctyl salicylate buried in the ingredients. That's a chemical booster.
Because UV will permanently darken your scar. And once that happens you're basically looking at expensive laser treatments to maybe fix it.
Why Scars Happen
Your body makes collagen to patch injuries. Like spackle but biological.
New collagen is super vulnerable. To sun, inflammation & drying out. Everything that can go wrong with healing tissue basically makes scars worse.
And people don't realize how long the vulnerable period is. 12-18 months. They think because the wound closed at two weeks they're done but underneath that tissue is still remodeling. Still fragile. Still very much susceptible to permanent damage if you expose it to UV.
First Two Weeks
There's this myth about letting wounds breathe.
Don't.
Moist wound healing is better, as in 30-50% better outcomes in terms of final scar appearance. When wounds stay moist the cells migrate faster, inflammation goes down, collagen organizes properly instead of forming that thick ropy texture everyone's trying to avoid.
What to use:
Just Vaseline. Regular petroleum jelly from the drugstore. Cheap, works great, decades of evidence.
Or Aquaphor if you want something with extra emollients. Either one. You're creating an occlusive barrier that keeps the wound bed from drying out.
Clean it gently with mild soap, water, pat dry. And KEEP IT COVERED from the sun with a physical barrier if you can those first two weeks. Boring? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
After It Closes: Silicone Phase
Once there's no drainage. No scabbing. Actually closed which is usually 10-14 days but varies, switch to silicone.
And I mean 100% silicone. Not "silicone blend" or whatever marketing term they're using.
Why it works:
Maintains hydration in the tissue. Regulates how much collagen your body lays down so you don't get those raised hypertrophic scars. Reduces inflammation. There are 40 years of clinical data at this point showing it works.
Gels are better for facial scars or anywhere with curves, however with young kids often the sheets mentioned below are easier because you just apply and forget it. The gel dries clear. Once it is dry you put TRUE MINERAL sunscreen on top of it. This is critical. Do both of these things twice daily. Every day. For 6 months minimum.
Sheets work better on flat areas. Abdomen, chest, back. Wear them 12-24 hours, overnight is easiest. Wash every other day with water, air dry. Â Each one lasts 2-4 weeks before you replace it.
My best outcomes are people who stuck with silicone for 6+ months. The ones who quit after three weeks because they didn't see instant results... not so much.
The Sun Thing (Where Everyone Messes Up)
Okay.
UV radiation destroys healing scars. Not being dramatic here. It causes actual permanent damage.
What happens when healing tissue gets UV exposure:
Melanocytes go into overdrive. They're your pigment-producing cells and they just start pumping out melanin like crazy. Way more than normal. You get post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that can last years. Sometimes permanent.
UV also increases inflammation which signals your body to make more collagen. Extra collagen = raised thick scars that are hard to treat once they form.
Plus it slows down healing. Damages DNA in the cells, everything takes longer to repair, higher risk of abnormal scarring.
When I was working in facial plastics I saw this constantly. Patient looks great at three months post-op. Then summer happens, they spend a day at the pool, next appointment that surgical line is dark brown.
And it stays that way. Because the damage is done.
Chemical vs Mineral (This Matters)
Chemical sunscreens absorb into your skin where they convert UV to heat.
On healing tissue with a compromised barrier? With inflammation and fragile new collagen? Not ideal. You don't want chemicals absorbing into this.
Mineral sunscreens made with zinc oxide that sit on top of the skin, this is what you want. Physical barrier SPF that blocks UV mechanically instead of chemically. Plus zinc actually has anti-inflammatory properties which helps healing.
Except.
Most sunscreens labeled "mineral" aren't actually mineral.
The Booster Thing
Companies want their mineral formulas to feel smooth. Not leave white cast. So they add "boosters."
Sounds fine right?
Boosters are chemical UV filters. Just hidden in the inactive ingredient list where people don't look.
Butyloctyl salicylate is the most common one. If you see that in your "mineral" sunscreen you're using a hybrid. You're getting chemical filters whether you know it or not.
There are others: ethylhexyl methoxycrylene, polysilicone-15, a bunch of different names. Same problem.
This is why I started Daily Shade actually. My daughter had a horrible reaction to chemical sunscreen when she was one. There were blisters everywhere at her first birthday party. So I went looking for truly mineral and couldn't find anything that didn't either leave her looking like a ghost or have chemical boosters sneaking in the formula.
Took four years to develop our first sku for Daily Shade. 20% non-nano zinc oxide, zero chemical boosters, actually disappears on skin.
Because when you're protecting vulnerable healing tissue you need the cleanest formula. Not hybrid. Not "mostly" mineral.
How to Protect It
Morning: Silicone gel or sheet first. Let it dry completely, usually takes 5 minutes.
Then sunscreen. Real mineral, SPF 30 minimum. Be generous, people always use way less than they should.
Reapply every 2 hours outside. After swimming or sweating reapply immediately.
Cover with clothing when possible. UPF 50 shirt, hat, whatever. Physical barriers plus sunscreen.
Do this for a year minimum. 18 months better.
I know it sounds like forever but scar tissue stays vulnerable to UV that whole time even when it looks healed.
Other Stuff
Vitamin C serum helps with pigmentation. I suggest waiting until 12 weeks out however. You can apply it in the morning before sunscreen. Get one with 10-20% L-ascorbic acid in a dark bottle because it degrades in light.
Retinol is good for texture but don't start until 9-12 months from injury. And be careful because it increases sun sensitivity so sunscreen becomes even more critical. Start low, like 0.025%.
Scar massage after it's fully healed, 2-3 weeks usually. Use silicone gel as lubricant, massage in circles a couple minutes, 2-3 times daily. Gentle pressure. Helps break down collagen, improves circulation.
Shopping List
Need:
- Vaseline or Aquaphor ($5-10)
- Silicone gel OR sheets ($20-60)
- TRUE mineral sunscreen SPF 30+ ($28-36)
- Non-stick bandages ($8-12)
- Gentle cleanser ($10-15)
Helpful:
- Vitamin C serum ($20-40)
- Hat and UPF clothing ($30-100)
- Retinol later ($15-30)
Basics run about $50 if you go Vaseline, silicone sheets, good mineral sunscreen.
Questions
How long for scars to fade? Most improvement first 6 months with good care. Keep remodeling for 12-18 months total.
Can you prevent scars completely? No. If it went deep enough to need collagen repair you're getting a scar. But you can make it way less visible.
Should wounds breathe? No. Old advice. Keep covered and moist.
Vitamin E? Doesn't work. Studies don't support it.
When to start silicone? After wound closes. No drainage, no scabs. Usually 10-14 days.
How long for sun protection? 12 months minimum. 18 better.
Chemical vs mineral for scars? TRUE Mineral sits on skin, blocks UV physically. Chemical absorbs in, converts to heat. For healing tissue mineral is better. TRUE mineral though, not hybrid with chemical boosters.
Makeup over scars? After wound closes. Silicone first, dry completely, sunscreen, then makeup. Don't count on makeup SPF.
When to Call Doctor
Infection: redness spreading, warmth, pus, fever.
Scar getting thicker instead of flatter. Widening.
Any concerns really.
For surgical scars follow your surgeon's instructions. Those override general advice.
Bottom Line
You can use fancy products. Perfect wound care. But skip sun protection or use "mineral" sunscreen full of chemical boosters and you'll end up with darker more visible scarring than necessary.
UV damage is permanent. Once hyperpigmentation sets in you're looking at lasers to maybe fix it.
Use TRUE mineral. Not hybrid. Not mostly mineral.
Real thing.
Why I Made Daily Shade
My daughter's allergic reaction (blistering reaction I mentioned) led to four years developing an actual mineral formula without compromise.
Babe Shade SPF 30:
- 20% non-nano zinc oxide, nothing else for UV
- Zero chemical boosters
- 99.4% naturally derived
- No white cast
- Safe for babies and healing tissue
What I use on my kids. What I recommend for healing scars.
👉 Shop Babe Shade
About me: PA-C, 15 years practice including facial plastics. I started Daily Shade after couldn't find truly clean sun protection. Our mission is decreasing skin cancer in rising generation.
Disclaimer: Educational info, not medical advice. Talk to your provider about your specific wounds. Everyone heals different.