Scar Treatment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Topical, Laser, Injectables), By Scar Type (Atrophic Scars, Hypertrophic & Keloid Scars), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030

Scar Treatment Market Size & Trends

The global scar treatment market size was estimated at USD 28.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% from 2024 to 2030. The market is expected to grow due to several factors, such as the growing concern among people regarding their aesthetic appearance, the increasing number of road accidents and burn injuries, and technological advancements supplementing new device launches. The first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic were marked by the rapid adoption of telemedicine in all domains of the healthcare sector. Skincare, being non-emergency, requires minimal hospital visits. Even though final procedures require a patient to visit the hospital or doctor’s office, pre-planning and post-procedure management were largely preferred through telemedicine.

The COVID-19 pandemic impeded the market growth in 2020, but the trends of telemedicine are expected to play an important role in optimizing the market growth as compared to the pre-COVID period. In addition, the adoption of ambulatory surgery centers and the development of portable or mobile scar treatment devices are expected to boost the growth of the market in both developed as well as developing regions.

The market is experiencing immense technological developments with the introduction of laser therapy, for instance, MedLite C6, a Q-switched laser-based instrument developed for treating acne. Laser instruments help destroy scar tissue, thereby assisting in scar treatment procedures. Treatment with laser products involves both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. Plastic and reconstructive surgery is also a part of the surgical laser treatment process. For instance, in June 2022, Cynosure launched PicoSure Pro Device to treat wrinkles, acne scars, and pores.

According to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2022, nearly 50,930 scar revision procedures were performed in 2022 in the U.S. Hence, the demand for greater aesthetic appeal plays an important role in increasing the number of reconstructive surgical cases for scar revision. In addition to skin corrective surgeries, scar treatment products are also widely adopted.

End-use Insights

The hospitals segment dominated the market with a share of 40.7% in 2023 owing to the usage of sophisticated infrastructure and the presence of technologically advanced products in these settings for scar treatment. The retail pharmacies/e-commerce segment is projected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period due to the rapid growth of online websites and easy access to scar treatment products on these websites. OTC products are often bought at such online portals, which do not require any doctor consultation. Moreover, people also tend to buy products online for discounted prices and numerous offers.

The vast majority of scar treatment is available in hospitals, giving patients a variety of options for reducing or removing the scar. In the majority of cases, hospitals provide initial emergency care to patients, who frequently have cuts, burn injuries, wounds, and other severe injuries. Hospitals also provide treatment, to prevent further scar formation in patients. Large hospitals frequently have a plethora of sophisticated equipment and technically advanced procedures for patient care. In hospitals, non-invasive techniques are used such as gels, creams, and silicone sheets, as well as laser therapy.

Market Dynamics Insights

The growing number of road accidents is one of the high-impact rendering factors, raising the demand for scar treatment products. According to the Population Reference Bureau, around 50 million people are injured due to road accidents every year, which frequently leads to the occurrence of scars requiring surgical treatment. Patients who undergo such surgeries develop surgical scars and are provided topical products to improve and reduce their appearance. Hence, the rising number of road accidents coupled with an increasing number of cosmetic surgeries is expected to propel the need for topical products for scar treatment.

The high prevalence of burn injuries is another driving factor supporting the market's growth. According to the CDC, in the U.S., every year, 1.1 million burn injuries require medical attention. Around 50,000 of these people require hospitalization. Burn injuries leave noticeable hypertrophic burn marks, which distort the victim's appearance. Scar removal products are crucial for such injuries. Moreover, post-burn marks cause a hindrance in the routine lifestyle of victims. Plastic surgeries or resurfacing laser therapies are commonly performed to remove these marks.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market with a revenue share of 33.9% in 2023 owing to the high aesthetic consciousness among people and the rapid adoption of advanced products. Advanced laser scar treatment instruments are in high demand in the U.S. In 2022, the U.S. held the largest market share in the North American region. The American Burn Association (ABA) reports that there are 486,000 burn cases each year.

Scar treatment for burn injuries is covered by government reimbursement policies in the U.S. Scar treatment for acne may not be reimbursed unless a healthcare professional provides a Letter of medical necessity. Patients' increased healthcare spending is another major driver in the U.S. market. Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR of 10.2% over the forecast period due to the high incidence of road accidents in countries such as India. Key countries in the Asia Pacific market are China and India. Most countries in this region are developing nations and are moving toward faster adoption of technological advancements.

Product Insights

The topical products segment held the largest market share of 57.4% in 2023. The availability of topical creams, gels, and silicone sheets as over-the-counter (OTC) products allows people to use them to treat scars. Laser products are widely used as they provide a non-invasive and painless option for treating scars with minimal discomfort. Topical products are applied directly to the skin's surface. These items are silicone sheets, creams, gels, and others. These products are frequently purchased as they are easily accessible to consumers as OTC products.

Furthermore, treatment with these products does not require individuals to visit physicians for medication; thus, it is a more convenient option, expected to increase demand for these products. Other topical products include oils, sprays, elastic bandages, pressure garments, and ointments. For scar treatment, pressure garments apply pressure to the scar site. These are non-invasive and can be applied at home without medical consultation. However, these topical products are less effective and require 6 to 12 months of consistent use to produce noticeable results, which may hamper segment growth during the forecast period.

Scar Type Insights

The atrophic scars segment held the largest market share of 35.9% in 2023 due to the rising prevalence of acne scars. Topical creams and gels are commonly used to treat these scars. The keloid and hypertrophic scars are expected to grow significantly over the forecast period due to the prevalence among people with wound injuries. Atrophic scars are commonly caused by muscle and fat loss in the body over an injured area. Atrophic scars form when the skin does not produce enough collagen to heal the infection site. This type of scar looks like a pit and is typically caused by staphylococcus infections, acne, chickenpox, and surgery.

Treating such scars typically entails the application of topical gels, creams, and ointments that are widely available. The scar treatment stimulates the skin's natural healing process by replacing collagen, elastin, and other fibrous tissues. This allows the healed lesion's surface to grow around the surrounding area, as the majority of such scars result from acne; using these creams reduces the visibility of the scars. As the demand for aesthetic appeal grows, the need for topical products to treat atrophic scars also increases.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The major players are focusing on strategies such as the launch of new products, mergers and acquisitions, and geographical expansions to cater to the unmet demand of the target population. For instance, in August 2023, Sofwave Medical Ltd received approval from the FDA for its Precise SUPERB Applicator to treat acne scars. Similarly, in July 2022, Secret Duo of ilooda Co., Ltd. received approval from the FDA for its product, Secret Duo, a 1540 nm laser to treat scars post monkeypox infection.

Scar Treatment Market Report Scope

Global Scar Treatment Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global scar treatment market report based on product, scar type, end-use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Topical Products

    • Creams

    • Gels

    • Silicon Sheets

    • Others

  • Laser Products

    • CO2 Laser

    • Pulse-dyed Laser

    • Others

  • Injectables

  • Others

• Scar Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Atrophic Scars

  • Hypertrophic & Keloid Scars

  • Contracture Scars

  • Stretch Marks

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Hospitals

  • Clinics

  • Retail Pharmacies/E-commerce

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • Spain

    • France

    • Italy

    • Russia

    • Denmark

    • Norway

    • Sweden

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

    • Australia

    • Thailand

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • MEA

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • Kuwait