Why Winter Is a Strategic Time to Treat Scars — And Why Timing Matters
The timing of scar treatment can influence the stability and predictability of results.
When patients ask me when to begin treating a scar, I often explain that winter can be a strategic season — not because cold weather accelerates healing, but because it reduces environmental factors that can interfere with post-treatment recovery.
Let me explain.
Reduced UV Exposure = Lower Risk of Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
After scar treatments — particularly regenerative procedures or pigment-based camouflage — the skin enters a period of increased reactivity.
UV radiation stimulates melanocytes to produce melanin. Healing or recently treated tissue is more vulnerable to this response, which increases the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), especially in medium to darker skin tones.
Even with appropriate sunscreen use, summer months increase:
Incidental UV exposure
Outdoor activity duration
Cumulative photodamage
In winter:
UV index is generally lower
Skin is more frequently covered by clothing
Time spent outdoors tends to decrease
This reduces the likelihood of UV-triggered pigmentation changes during the healing phase.
Lower Heat and Sweat Reduce Secondary Irritation
While cold temperatures do not directly accelerate scar remodeling, warmer climates increase:
Sweating
Friction from damp clothing
Excess heat and moisture can increase irritation in treated areas, particularly in regions prone to friction (abdomen, thighs, under breasts).
Winter conditions often reduce these variables, allowing the skin to recover in a more controlled environment.
Scar Remodeling Requires Stability
Scar improvement is based on gradual collagen remodeling and tissue adaptation.
This process:
Takes months, not weeks
Requires spacing between sessions
Benefits from reduced inflammatory triggers
Beginning treatment during winter allows several months of lower UV exposure before peak summer conditions return.
This is particularly helpful for:
Hyperpigmented scars
Patients prone to PIH
Recently stabilized surgical scars (after appropriate healing period)
Healing Timeline Matters More Than Season
It’s important to clarify:
The biological process of collagen remodeling does not depend on season.
However, the external environment can influence:
Pigmentation risk
Surface irritation
Patient compliance with sun protection
Winter simply reduces certain environmental stressors, making post-treatment care more manageable.
Planning Ahead for Visible Improvement
Scar treatments require progressive sessions.
If treatment begins in winter:
Remodeling progresses during months of lower UV intensity
Pigment stabilization occurs before high-sun exposure
Patients often reach visible improvement by late spring or early summer
This is a strategic advantage, not a biological shortcut.
A Thoughtful Approach to Timing
Scar treatment is not urgent — it is planned.
The best time to begin is:
When the scar is biologically ready (typically ≥ 4–6 months post-closure for most surgical scars)
When environmental factors are manageable
When the patient can comply with aftercare
Its no wearing fajas
Winter often meets those criteria.
If you are in NYC and considering scar treatment, we can evaluate:
Your scar’s stage of maturation
Your pigmentation risk
Your lifestyle and sun exposure
And whether this season is appropriate to begin
Scar healing is biological.
Results are strategic.
Natalia Mejía, Scar Specialist