Scar Treatment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Topical, Laser, Injectables), By Scar Type (Stretch Marks, Atrophic), By End-Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global scar treatment market was valued at USD 23.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9% from 2023 to 2030. The growing concern among people regarding their aesthetic appearance is one of the major factors triggering the rise in demand for scar treatment products in the market. Treating various types of scars helps in complete skin rejuvenation, which improves the aesthetic appeal of a person. Such demand for aesthetics is mainly generated by the women population, owing to their greater concern for appearance. Thus, this population group is expected to be the largest contributor to the market.

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 are largely preferred through telemedicine.

COVID-19 may have temporarily impeded the market growth in 2020, but 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 increasing number of road accidents is also a significant influencing factor contributing to the growth of the market. WHO data concludes that due to road accidents, nearly 10 million people are injured every year, which has led to an increase in the target population. Topical products generally help in reducing such marks. Road accidents also lead to high demand for cosmetic surgeries, which further boosts the demand for laser instruments. The high prevalence of burn injuries is another driving factor supporting the growth of the market. Burn injuries leave noticeable hypertrophic burn marks, which distort the victim’s appearance. Scar removal products are crucial for the treatment of such injuries.

The scar treatment market is experiencing immense technological developments with the introduction of laser therapy. For instance, MedLite C6 is a new Q-switched laser-based instrument developed for the treatment of acne. Laser instruments help in destroying scar tissue, thereby, assisting in scar treatment procedures. Treatment with laser products involves both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. Plastic and reconstructive surgeries are also a part of the surgical laser treatment process.

According to the plastic surgery statistics report, 263,643 scar revision procedures were performed in 2020, 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 57.6% in 2022. 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 also 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 classified as 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 need individuals to visit physicians for medication; thus, it is a more convenient option, which is 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 the need for a medical consultation. However, these topical products are less effective and require 6 to 12 months of consistent use to produce noticeable results. This may hamper segment growth during the forecast period.

Scar Type Insights

Atrophic scars held the largest share of 36.8% in 2022 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 the population 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.

The treatment of such scars typically entails the application of topical gels, creams, and widely available ointments. 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 are the result of acne, the use of these creams reduces the visibility of the scars. As the demand for aesthetic appeal grows, the need for such topical products to treat atrophic scars also increases.

End-use Insights

The hospitals segment dominated the market with a share of 42.4% in 2022, 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 purchase products online to avail 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.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market with a revenue share of 34.3% in 2022, owing to the high aesthetic consciousness among people and the rapid adoption of advanced products. Furthermore, advanced laser scar treatment instruments are in high demand in the U.S.

In 2022, the U.S. held the largest share of 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 10.5% 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. The majority of countries in this region are developing nations and are moving toward faster adoption of technological advancements.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The major players are focusing on strategies such as the launch of new products, mergers & acquisitions, and geographical expansions to cater to the unmet demand of the target population. For instance, in July 2022, Smith & Nephew announced a partnership with Rods&Cones to provide smart surgery glasses and digital remote assistance to customers. With smart surgery glasses, the company’s representatives can see through the eyes of the healthcare professional using them, enabling continuous remote support during the surgery. 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 Heal Inc.

• Pacific World Corporation

• Perrigo Company plc

• Enaltus LLC 

Scar Treatment Market Report Scope

Global Scar Treatment Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional & 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