Heat helps to soften up the scar tissue that exists as a result of an old injury or a previous surgery.
An increase in temperature helps the scar tissue to loosen and be broken down more easily.
Applying gentle heat to the scar tissue area can help increase blood flow, relax tight tissues, and make massaging easier. Heat pads or warm compresses can be used for a few minutes before performing massage or stretching exercises. The warmth helps loosen up the scar tissue, making it more responsive to treatment.
Heat helps reduce scar tissue formation and relieves the aching caused by the chronic stage of inflammation. Apply heat as described in the Subacute stage of inflammation as needed and receive at least 1 massage a month to reduce scar tissue formation.
Laser surgery.
Scars may be treated with a variety of different lasers, depending on the underlying cause of the scar. Lasers may be used to smooth a scar, remove the abnormal color of a scar, or flatten a scar.
Applying heat to an injury increases blood flow to the area and helps facilitate the healing process. But, if you apply heat too soon after an injury, it can cause additional swelling by increasing blood flow too much.
For best results, you should perform scar massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You should only stop sooner than that if the scar starts showing signs of infection or you experience intolerable discomfort.
As a more advanced treatment, use ice AND heat. To achieve therapeutic results, you must do this in a very specific way. The key is to ice for 20 minutes, causing the vessels to narrow, and then heat for 15 minutes, causing the vessels to dilate.
There are many types of therapies for scar tissue, but the standard treatment commonly involves exercise and massage — specifically, stretching and pulling the scar tissue to soften, align and elongate it.
Massage is a way of softening and flattening scars and reducing the adhesions between the different layers of the tissue, making the scar tissue more flexible. It can also help alleviate any itching and over-sensitivity of the scar.
Dermatologists may inject a corticosteroid solution directly into a hypertrophic scar or keloid, which may help reduce its size. Steroids break the bonds between collagen fibers, which reduces the amount of scar tissue beneath the skin.
Cold (ice therapy) is better for soft tissue damage than heat as heat could cause conditions to become worse. Ice therapy has healing properties such as pain relief, reducing swelling and inflammation, however, heat has the potential to make inflammation worse, delaying healing.
Use Vaseline® Jelly for Scars
By sealing in moisture it also helps to reduce dryness of scarred skin, once your skin has healed. This may help to improve the appearance of scars, making the skin look smoother and softer, as well as help to reduce itchiness caused by dryness.
“Ice is a great choice for the first 72 hours after an injury because it helps reduce swelling, which causes pain. Heat, on the other hand, helps soothe stiff joints and relax muscles. However, neither option should be used for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.”
After one week, switch to warm compresses instead. The heat from warm compresses helps dilate the blood vessels, facilitating the absorption of accumulated fluids in the swollen tissues.
Maybe think twice about ice
"Icing is more about comfort than treating inflammation," Frenkiewich says. Some research shows that icing an injured area can hinder healing. A long period of applying cold to the skin—intended to numb the area and reduce inflammation—can curtail blood flow and potentially harm soft tissue.
Heat can reduce pain and improve elasticity of collagen fibers making scar tissue easier to mobilize. Paraffin combines the element of heat and skin lubrication, which are both useful for mobilization. Hot packs: The use of a heat pack on the scarred area can help increase the overall blood flow.
Scar Tissue Release Therapy is a gentle yet effective modality. In your session you may feel such sensations as a slight tugging or pressure as the scar tissue is released.
You should carry on massaging your scars for at least three to six months after your surgery or injury. What happens if I do not do anything? Your scar could become hard and inflexible or adhesions may form. Scars that cross a joint could stop you being able to bend or straighten the joint (a contracture).
What Part of the Body Heals the Slowest? Ligaments, nerves and wounds in areas with more movement heal the slowest. Injuries to these areas have a longer recovery time because of poor blood circulation and constant motion stress.
Heat has the opposite function of cold therapy. Applying heat to a body part stimulates blood circulation to the injury site. This oxygen-rich blood brings nutrients to the affected area, promoting healing. Heat also helps to remove lactic acid buildup from overtaxed muscles, which allows them to “un-clench.”
Experts recommend eating two or three servings of protein daily to help the wound healing process because your body needs it when repairing skin, tissues, and muscle.