My 17 month old toddler has a 1/2 inch scar on his face from a recent fall which was not given stitches but left open to heal. The skin area has healed but the tissue is still red rather than the faded white of older scars as it happened recently. I have been protecting the area with a bandaid to keep it from getting any sun exposure as I know this is important. Is it safe to use retin-a in a toddler while this scar is still red to help with collagen synthesis to decrease the visibility of this scar? I know this is appropriate in adults but was not certain if it could be safely used in a toddler.
HI...the Chat Doctor.  Please do not use it. If you are still concerned about the scar getting darker and bigger I suggest you consult a pediatric dermatologist regarding other treatment options. Regards -