Mederma v Vaseline Review – You Must Read Before Using Either Mederma or Vaseline

Mederma v Vaseline – In this matchup we will talk about price, effectiveness, and results.

Should I Use Mederma or Vaseline for Scars?

Worried about scarring? If you have a wound and are concerned whether you will develop scarring or you already have scars and are trying to minimize them but don’t know which to choose.

While research suggests that both Vaseline and Mederma are helpful for scars we believe one is superior and a better option.

Our decision is based on research, results, ingredients and of course price. Read on to learn which is the better option for you. 

Which Will Work Better For Scars, Mederma or Vaseline?

The answer is it depends on whether the scars you have are still forming or are fully developed.

A fully developed or matured scar is difficult to augment. There are some great choices for those of you with matured scars like our Selevax and others.

For a full list of the Top Scar Creams of 2018 click here. For a matured scar both Mederma and Vaseline will work equally well.

This is due to the ingredients that each have and what it is those ingredients do to your scar.

If you are choosing which to put on a wound that has not fully healed, then you should definitely read on and learn about a surprising misconception.

What Are the Ingredients of Mederma and Vaseline?

Mederma Ingredients - Mederma has a number of ingredients which it claims works to reduce the appearance of scars, including: Water (purified), PEG-4, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Allium cepa (onion) bulb extract, xanthan gum, allantoin, methylparaben, sorbic acid, fragrance. Notably, Mederma includes ingredients like fragrance and xanthan gum which have no true benefit to your scar. However, Mederma touts its inclusion of Allium cepa, or onion bulb extract.

Vaseline Ingredients – The ingredient in Vaseline is 100% pure petroleum jelly. What is petroleum jelly you wonder? It is a translucent jelly consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons, used as a lubricant or ointment.  Petroleum jelly was originally discovered on the rods of oil rigs. Men on the ship found it useful to put on minor cuts, abrasions and burns. Today, petroleum jelly is refined and has been found to be clinically proven to help with many different ailments.

Should I Put Vaseline On My Wound The First Week?

Vaseline is only recommended for minor cuts and abrasions for a reason.

First, Vaseline is not soluble to your skin.

This means that it doesn’t get absorbed by your skin or body. While this great because it can lock in moisture, this is very bad if there is any type of bacteria on your wound, because that bacteria will be locked in and can grow to develop into an infection.

Petroleum jelly is known to cause wound swelling and redness.  

In fact, this is why doctors do not recommend Vaseline for wounds; Instead they recommend triple antibiotic ointments like Neosporin and others. 

So, if you are going to apply Vaseline to a minor cut or abrasion make sure to clean it first. 

Should I Put Mederma On My Wound The First Week?

Likewise, Mederma does not have antibiotic properties to prevent wound infection and is therefore not recommended for use on open wounds.

This is most concerning because should the wound become infected, then the scarring that results after healing may be much worse.

In fact, an infected wound can sometimes require skin in the area to be de-brided or shaved off leaving you with greater skin loss and a larger wound.

Once again, that’s why antibiotic ointments are routinely prescribed for wound care for the first week until the wound has had sufficient healing time.

What Should I Use After My First Week of Antibiotic Ointment, Mederma or Vaseline?

Vaseline is our Winner. There is absolutely no clinical evidence that Mederma is any better at reducing your scar than Vaseline. 

Mederma claims it is better because of the onion extract it contains. This extract is thought to minimize scarring due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

However, a study on the effect of Mederma on hypertrophic scars on rabbit ears says otherwise.

In that study there was no anti-inflammatory effect on the scars. 

Vaseline on the other hand works well because it truly locks in wound bed moisture which is known to reduce scarring.

Why Vaseline Is a Better Option Than Mederma?

Since there is no clinical difference in the scarring Vaseline is our winner because it is a far less expensive alternative.

A tube of Mederma at CVS, Walmart or on Amazon can cost you from $12 to $30, whereas an equal amount of Vaseline will cost you a couple dollars at CVS, Walmart or on Amazon. 

Save your money, because you will need it for a scar cream to use on your matured scar. Click here to see our Top Scar Creams of 2018.