Vaseline, or petroleum jelly, does not fade white scars. While it can help keep the skin moist and prevent scabbing, which may indirectly improve the appearance of a healing wound and potentially reduce dryness in existing scars, it's not a proven treatment for scar fading. Several sources confirm this. The National Library of Medicine notes that while Vaseline and Vitamin E haven't been proven effective at reducing scars, silicone scar gels and sheets have been. [^1] Furthermore, a Reddit thread explicitly states Vaseline is ineffective in fading scars. ^3 Other sources mention its use in maintaining skin moisture to potentially improve the appearance of existing scars but stop short of claiming it actively fades them. [^2, ^4, ^5, ^7, ^8, ^9, ^10] It's important to note that some sources suggest using petroleum jelly to keep wounds moist to prevent the formation of hard scabs, potentially minimizing scar appearance during the healing process. [^6, ^10] However, this does not mean it will fade existing white scars.
Several articles emphasize the use of other methods for scar treatment. For example, this article on scar care mentions cocoa butter cream and Vaseline for reducing scar appearance, but acknowledges limitations. ^2 Another source specifically advises against using petroleum jelly in burn scar treatment. ^7
In summary, Vaseline may help maintain moisture in scar tissue and possibly improve its appearance by reducing dryness, but it will not fade existing white scars. For effective scar treatment, consider options like silicone scar gels and sheets, as suggested by medical professionals.
[^1]: Although petroleum jelly and vitamin E haven't been proven effective at reducing scars, per the National Library of Medicine, silicone scar gels and gel sheets have. 24-Feb-2023
