Apply sunscreen to the wound after it has healed. Sun protection may help reduce red or brown discoloration and help the scar fade faster. Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply frequently.
Scar discoloration is primarily caused by: Increased Melanin Production: In response to inflammation and injury, the skin produces more melanin, leading to hyperpigmentation (Nautiyal & Wairkar, 2021). Vascular Changes: Increased blood flow and vessel formation contribute to erythematous scars (Fitzpatrick, 1994).
Reddish or brownish acne marks left behind by acne lesions usually fade eventually, but it can take a year or longer. Mild or moderate scarring may also fade over time, but in general, unless acne scars are treated — especially severe scarring — they're permanent.
For dark spots: Often the result of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, a high-coverage concealer is your best bet, notes Adivi. Sotomayor agrees, noting that a long-wear option is a good move, too. “To create a bit more coverage, try applying a bit of translucent powder before and after applying concealer.
Scars seem to get worse before they get better. For about six weeks after surgery the scar becomes red, firm and hard. This is the body's way of making a very strong and solid scar. Over the next four months the scar will soften and lose the redness.
Most scars fade over time and don't cause long-term health problems. How a scar changes depends on its location, size and type. A scar may fade so much that you can barely see it, but it never completely goes away. Some scars cause problems months or years later.
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.
Chemical peels are often used to minimize sun-damaged skin, irregular color (pigment), and superficial scars. The top layer of skin is removed with a chemical application to the skin. By removing the top layer, the skin regenerates, often improving the skin's appearance.
Caring for Scars
One tip for taking care of scars is to use a topical ointment. Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible. Another tip for caring for your scars includes surgery.
The scar will tend to remain red for 1-6 months afterwards. After that as the collagen, fibers and scar organizes and matures, the scar tends to contract down and flatten out. The color becomes less red and begins to take on the color and appearance of the surrounding tissue.
In the case of brown spots, we recommend relying on a yellow to orange concealer to camouflage them. These colors will help to fade your pigmentation spots while bringing light and radiance to your face.
Hypertrophic scars that result from burn wounds are more difficult to treat. Superficial burn wounds usually heal without forming hypertrophic scars. Deep burn wounds are harder to treat. Many dermatologic and plastic surgeons treat these by removing the burned area and then using a skin graft.
Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular basis to improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend topical vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.
While some scars won't go away by themselves, there are others where time does the trick to minimize the appearance of the scar. For dark scars that are primarily superficial, the best scar removal treatment is simply time and your natural skin cell turnover cycle.
For New Scars: Use Mederma Cream as soon as the wound has healed or stitches have been removed. Continue using it for at least 8 weeks to see noticeable improvements in the appearance of the scar. For Existing Scars: Apply Mederma Cream regularly for 3-6 months to see significant results.
'Angry', inflamed or hypertrophic scars
'Angry' scars are those which become red, itchy, irritated, firm and hard. The commonest form of this scar is the hypertrophic scar seen after burn injury. However, even seemingly normal scars can have areas which become active, sometimes for no clear reason.
Mederma Advanced Scar Gel
Mederma recommends applying this treatment as soon as your wound closes and continue using it daily for at least eight weeks on new scars and three to six months on existing scars.
It is important to not let your scar become dry. During massage and throughout the day, you can apply lotion or vitamin E. If you decide to use lotion, be sure to use something that is gentle and without perfume, such as Eucerin or Cocoa Butter.