Scar Treatment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Topical Products, Laser Products), By Scar Type (Atrophic, Hypertrophic & Keloid Scars), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global scar treatment market size was valued at USD 12.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1% from 2021 to 2028. The market is largely being driven by the increasing need for improving aesthetic appeal in individuals and complete skin rejuvenation. Women account for the majority of the demand as they are more concerned about their appearance. The increasing number of road accidents and burn injuries have also resulted in a rise in the demand for cosmetic procedures on a global scale. A global increase in the number of hypertrophic burn marks, wherein the victim’s appearance has become distorted, is also boosting the demand for scar treatment products.

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 doctors’ office, pre-planning and post-procedure management are largely preferred through telemedicine. COVID-19 may have temporarily impeded the market growth in 2020, the trends of telemedicine are expected to play an important factor in optimizing the market growth as compared to non-covid situations. 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 growing number of road accidents is one of the high-impact rendering factors, raising the demand for scar treatment products. According to 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. In addition, 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 the increasing number of cosmetic surgeries, is expected to propel the need for topical products for scar treatment.

According to Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, 181,132 scar revision procedures were performed in 2019, making it one of the top five performed reconstruction procedures. 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.

Product Insights

Topical products held the largest share of 58.0% in 2020. The availability of topical gels, creams, and silicone sheets as Over-the-Counter (OTC) products enables individuals to utilize them as a treatment for scars. Laser products are also used extensively as they provide a non-invasive and painless alternative for the treatment of scars with minimal discomfort.

Topical products are used directly on the surface of the skin. These products are segmented into creams, gels, silicone sheets, and others. As these products are easily available to consumers as OTC products, they are bought frequently. Moreover, treatment with these products does not require individuals to visit physicians for medication; hence, it proves to be an easier alternative, which is expected to boost the demand for these products.

Other topical products include pressure garments such as elastic bandages, oils, sprays, and ointments. Pressure garments apply pressure to the scar site for its treatment. These are non-invasive and can easily be applied at home without any medical consultation. However, these topical products are less effective and require around 6 to 12 months of continued usage for noticeable results, which may hinder the segment growth during the forecast period.

Scar Type Insights

Atrophic scars held the largest share of 36.4% in 2020 due to the rising prevalence of acne scars. These scars are usually treated with topical creams and gels. Hypertrophic and keloid scars are anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to their frequent occurrence among people with wound injuries.

Atrophic scars are usually a result of muscle and fat loss from the body over an injured area. Atrophic scars are usually formed when the skin produces insufficient collagen to heal the infection site. This sort of scar resembles a pit and is usually caused due to acne, staphylococcus infections, chickenpox, and in some cases, surgery.

The treatment of such scars usually revolves around the use of creams, gels, and ointments that are topical and are available easily. The treatment used for these scars helps stimulate the skin’s natural healing process to replace elastin, collagen, and other fibrous tissues. This enables the surface of the healed lesion to grow around the surrounding region. With a majority of such scars being a result of acne, the use of these creams allows the visibility of the scars to reduce. Thus, with the growing demand for aesthetic appeal, the need for such topical products to treat atrophic scars is increasing.

End-use Insights

The hospitals segment dominated the market with a share of 43.0% in 2020 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. The outbreak of COVID-19 is also expected to boost the growth of the e-commerce segment.

A vast majority of scar treatment is available at hospitals, allowing patients to choose from an array of options to reduce or remove the scar. Hospitals provide patients with initial emergency care in the majority of the cases often dealing with burn injuries, cuts and wounds, and other severe injuries. The treatment to be followed is also provided by hospitals as they aim toward reducing further scar formation in patients. Hospitals on a large basis often have an array of sophisticated equipment and technically advanced procedures for patient care. The utilization of noninvasive techniques such as creams, gels, and silicone sheets along with laser therapy is performed at hospitals.

Hospitals offer a generalized treatment for most emergency care services and further provide care during the recovery period. In many burn care incidents, specialized attention is given to patients to help with the recovery process. Basic care is availed by the majority of the global population at hospitals, thus holding the largest share in the market.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market with a revenue share of 35.2% in 2020 owing to the high aesthetic consciousness among people and the rapid adoption of advanced products. In addition, advanced laser instruments for scar treatment are in high demand in the U.S.

The U.S. held the largest share in the North American market in 2020. According to the American Burn Association (ABA), there are 486,000 burn cases annually. Scar treatment due to burn injuries is covered under government reimbursement policies in the U.S. Scar treatment for acne may not be reimbursed until a Letter of Medical Necessity is provided by a healthcare professional. Increased healthcare spending by patients is another major driver for the U.S. market. Owing to the aforementioned factors, the U.S. market for scar treatment is expected to witness positive growth. Sonoma Pharmaceuticals; Cynosure, Inc.; CCA Industries, Inc.; and Scar Heal, Inc. are some of the major players in the U.S. market.

Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR of 11.4% 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 India and China. The majority of countries in this region are developing economies and are moving toward faster adoption of technological advancements. Increasing investment by major multinational companies in R&D in these countries has proven to be a major factor driving the industries in the region. The increase in the number of women being concerned about aesthetic appeal has increased significantly, which is likely to drive the market in the region.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The key market players are forming strategic alliances to expand their product portfolios for scar treatment. For instance, in December 2020, Mölnlycke Healthcare opened a new distribution center at Northampton shire, U.K. This new distribution center was expected to ensure uninterrupted product supply throughout the U.K. with prevailing supply uncertainty caused due to Brexit and COVID-19. Some prominent players in the global scar treatment market include:

• Smith & Nephew PLC

• Lumenis

• Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC

• Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

• Cynosure

• CCA Industries, Inc.

• Newmedical Technology Inc.

• Mölnlycke Health Care AB

• Suneva Medical

Scar Treatment Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global scar treatment market report on the basis of product, scar type, end use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Topical Products

    • Creams

    • Gels

    • Silicon Sheets

    • Others

  • Laser Products

    • CO2 Laser

    • Pulse-dyed Laser

    • Others

  • Injectables

  • Others

• Scar Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Atrophic Scars

  • Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars 

  • Contracture Scars

  • Stretch Marks

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Hospitals

  • Clinics

  • Retail Pharmacies/ E-commerce

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Russia

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • Singapore

    • South Korea

    • Australia

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE