You cannot get rid of a scar, but most will fade over time. This can take up to 2 years or more, but there are some things you can do to help it heal or improve how it looks.
Not exactly. While some scar tissue will never go away, oftentimes, if treated properly, the injured tissue can be remolded to resemble normal, healthy tissue. This can restore normal tissue behavior and provide pain relief in any area of the body, even pelvic muscles following the birth of a baby.
According to Guenther, hypertrophic scars stay in the wound area and may diminish with time. Keloids, on the other hand, can grow beyond the original wound edges and often come back after they've gone away, says Geunther.
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.
Scar Process
It will take six to 18 months for the scar to have its final appearance. Your scar should gradually soften and fade over these six to 18 months, but will look pink initially (photo B). Some scars never fade. If your scar stays pink after 12 to 18 months please call to discuss options.
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.
Previous research on intermittent fasting has demonstrated its notable impact on diabetic wound healing. It can enhance re-epithelialization and dermal regeneration while reducing scar formation.
Healing wounds may itch, but you should avoid the temptation to scratch them. “Scratching the wound or picking at the scab causes more inflammation, making a scar more likely,” Fisher says.
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 massage is a way of softening and flattening scars. It can stop scar tissue build up and help make scars less noticeable. Your scar or scars will continue to grow and change for about twelve to eighteen months, so the earlier and more regularly you massage your scar, the less the chance of long-term problems.
It is often described as aching, burning, stabbing, throbbing, or tingling in or around the scarred area. The pain may be constant or intermittent, and its intensity can vary depending on factors such as the size and location of the scar, the extent of tissue damage, and individual pain tolerance.
Lemon/Lime Juice: Place lemon or lime juice on the scar with a cloth. Let this sit for a few minutes on the skin before washing it off. The acidic qualities of the juice help remove dead skin cells along the scar and can lessen the redness or appearance of scars.
Some people experience scar tissue pain due to fibrosis, which occurs when the body grows excessive scar tissue. Fibrosis causes adhesions that may lead to ongoing pain, inflammation, and loss of function of the tissue or joint.
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. Surgery will not eliminate the scar but can change its shape or make it less noticeable.
Laser surgery.
Most laser therapy for scars is done in conjunction with other treatments, including injections of steroids, use of special dressings, and the use of bandages. Multiple treatments may be required, regardless of the initial type of therapy. Pulse dye laser is a good choice to use for keloids.
How much a scar fades depends on its size, location and type. However, scars never fully disappear, because the jumbled tissue remains fundamentally different from the skin around it.
Vitamin E may be hailed as a new miracle regarding scar reduction and fading. However, the lack of clinical evidence suggests that using vitamin E for scars is ineffective and, thus, not necessary.
Physical therapy can help break up scar tissue that has formed around a joint. Learning flexibility exercises and stretches can help to reduce stiffness and relieve some of the discomforts that scarring can bring.
If the scab seems to be increasing in size instead of decreasing, a person should also contact a healthcare professional. If the wound is large, worsening, severely infected, causing fever or other symptoms, or affecting circulation, a person should seek immediate medical attention.
Massaging the scar with Vitamin E Oil, Mederma™, or other lotions can help soften the scar. For some scars that are tending to thicken, your doctor may suggest an injection of a medication such as Kenalog™ into the scar.
Vitamin E oil is also commonly used as a topical agent applied to scars that help with the reduction of size. Sunflower seeds, almonds, salmon, and avocado are all sources of Vitamin E. Overall a well balanced diet is the best course of action of wound healing and scar tissue formation and management.
Massage. Deep tissue massage and cross-friction massage are two manual therapies that improve mobility, promote healing, break up existing scar tissue, and help prevent it from forming. Scar tissue massage also helps with those aches and pains that develop when tight areas and adhesions impede healthy movement.
Scars shrink and become less noticeable as they age. You may be able to wait to have surgery until the scar lightens in color. This can be several months or even a year after the wound has healed. For some scars, it is best to have revision surgery 60 to 90 days after the scar matures or longer.