Mederma Advanced Scar Gel for dry skin
Allantoin
Onion Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Peg-200Caution
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for dry skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate scar treatment for your dry skin as onion bulb extract and allantoin help smooth texture and reduce redness, while panthenol and sodium hyaluronate provide hydration but are not specialized enough for your primary concern.
- The formula contains panthenol and sodium hyaluronate for humectant action, but lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients for optimal hydration of your dry skin.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 2.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently report that this gel effectively softens, flattens, and fades the discoloration of various scar types, including acne pockmarks, surgical incisions, and burns. While results are widely praised, they are heavily dependent on long-term consistency, with visible improvements typically requiring 4 to 8 weeks for new scars and several months for older ones.
Highlights
Effective scar fading Often Mentioned
- “significantly lightens dark spots”
- “reduces redness”
- “fades acne marks”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “flattens raised scars”
- “softens keloids”
- “smooths rough skin”
Slow results Often Mentioned
- “requires patience”
- “takes months”
- “no instant fix”
- “slow progress”
Easy application Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs quickly”
- “non-greasy”
- “lightweight gel”
- “once-daily use”
Versatile treatment Sometimes Noted
- “works on surgical scars”
- “burn marks”
- “old injuries”
- “stretch marks”
Flaking or peeling Sometimes Noted
- “leaves residue”
- “peels off”
- “clumps under makeup”
- “white film”
Minor irritation Rarely Noted
- “causes itching”
- “stinging sensation”
- “mild redness”
- “tingling”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “onion-like smell”
- “strong odor”
- “medicinal scent”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, walgreens.com, target.com, iherb.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Mederma Advanced Scar Gel for dry skin?
Lovi advises caution because while this gel contains panthenol and sodium hyaluronate for hydration, it lacks enough heavy softening and sealing ingredients to properly care for dry skin. A treatment for dry skin needs rich hydrating and skin-barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and peptides to properly nourish and protect it.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this gel a poor fit for dry skin?
This gel is a poor fit for dry skin because it lacks the rich softening and sealing ingredients needed to lock in moisture, even though it contains hydrating components like panthenol and sodium hyaluronate. A treatment of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and soothing oils to deeply nourish and protect dry skin.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Allantoin do for dry skin?
Allantoin helps dry skin by supporting skin barrier function and improving moisture retention. It is unlikely to cause irritation and is often included in formulations that aim to soothe and protect dry or sensitive skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2014
What does Onion Extract do for dry skin?
Onion extract helps soothe and protect dry skin by providing antioxidants that keep the skin calm and shield it from daily stress. This ingredient is unlikely to irritate when used as directed, helping maintain a smooth and healthy feel. A product of this type for dry skin needs nourishing moisturizers like ceramides or hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration and repair the skin barrier.
Where does this gel go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It provides some hydration and helps smooth texture, but dry skin needs richer soothing ingredients and heavier protective creams to lock in moisture.
Can I use this gel with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying the gel first to clean skin and following with your retinol product, or by using them on alternating nights to keep your skin calm. Because your skin is dry, a product of this type needs rich smoothing and sealing ingredients alongside its hydrating agents to lock in moisture and prevent flaking.
How often should I use this gel?
Apply this gel in the evening as part of your routine. This product of this type needs richer cream or oil ingredients to properly comfort and soften dry skin.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Dermatology Research and Practice, 2012
Can this gel clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This gel is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, though some users may experience minor irritation or flaking. To properly care for dry skin, this type of product needs rich moisturizing oils and butters alongside soothing hydrators to deeply soften and lock in moisture.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Is this gel fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Topical 12% onion extract gel applied early on Pfannenstiel's cesarean section scars in Asians improved scar height and scar symptoms compared to placebo, with no significant difference in scar redness, pliability, or overall appearance.
Dermatology Research and Practice, 2012A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Topical onion extract improved scar colour compared to silicon gel, while silicon gel was superior in decreasing scar height in 60 patients with hypertrophic and keloid scars, with the most effective results obtained from combining onion extract and silicon gel.
Journal of Wound Care, 2007Silicone derivative plus onion extract gel reduced pain, itching, and pigmentation compared to placebo in patients after median sternotomy.
International Wound Journal, 2012Onion extract gel significantly improved scar softness, redness, texture, and global appearance compared to no treatment in 60 subjects with postsurgical scars on the upper chest over 10 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical excipients like propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 200, and octisalate alter the stratum corneum recovery, lateral diffusion, and in vitro flux of ibuprofen in humans.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014
Ingredients
Water, Peg-200, Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Onion Bulb Extract, Lecithin, Methylparaben, Sorbic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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