Use a non-perfumed moisturising cream such as E45 cream or aqueous cream to moisturise the skin surrounding your scar twice a day. Avoid picking or scratching your scar. Keep clothes loose around your scar to avoid tension or friction which may irritate it.
Wet or moist treatment of wounds has been shown to promote re-epithelialization and result in reduced scar formation, as compared to treatment in a dry environment. The inflammatory reaction is reduced in the wet environment, thereby limiting injury progression.
It is best to use non-perfumed hypo-allergenic moisturisers (for example, Cetraben) to prevent any itching or irritation at the site. Apply this gently while the scar is fragile, ideally 3 to 4 times a day. It is important to fully clean the area of excess moisturiser regularly to prevent skin irritation.
Wounds heal faster in a moist environment. In addition, the moist environment has other benefits that make the wounds heal with less scarring.
Use silicone products
Silicone products, such as silicone sheets and gels, can keep your scar moisturized and help it heal. You can use them under your makeup and clothing.
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.
Hydration itself can have a suppressive effect on collagen production in fibroblasts thereby reducing excessive scarring 4, 5. In other studies, it has been demonstrated that the degree and duration of skin occlusion are important for reducing scar formation 6, 7.
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.
In fact, studies show that moist wounds heal 50 % faster than dry wounds. On the other hand, if a wound is exposed to the air, this creates a dry environment that actually promotes cell death, not healing. Wound exudate, or fluid, also plays a vital role in the healing process.
Once there is no more scab and the wound is visibly closed (which means that the skin has healed) you can start caring for your scar with topical creams or oils.
Don't Pick at the Wound
It can worsen acne and scarring, per the AAD. In addition to picking, refrain from scratching or manipulating wounds or newly formed scabs. “Picking at wounds during the healing process leads to increased inflammation and scarring,” Salyards says.
Moisturize. It is important to keep your scars clean and well moisturized for the best outcome. Massage your scars with lotion to keep them moist, make them less sensitive, decrease itching, and make stretching easier. This may also prevent skin breakdown.
Massage o The collagen in the scar tissue remolds over the course of a year. Gentle massage can help this tissue to flatten, creating a smoother appearance. Moisturize in the form of vitamin E, cocoa butter, or lotions.
Moisture helps new skin cells form and repair the wound. This may also apply to scabs. Keeping a scab moist with petroleum jelly and protected with a bandage may help the wound heal faster than if you leave the scab dry. Whether the scab is dry or moist, it's important to make sure it doesn't peel off prematurely.
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.
The timing of silicone scar sheet use can affect its efficacy, but it is generally never too late to start using them. While the best results are often seen when treatment begins shortly after wound closure or the formation of a scar, established scars can also show improvement.
Immediately following wound healing, a scar is usually red in appearance and is referred to as an 'immature' scar. Between 3 months and 2 years the scar should become paler, flatter and softer and can then be referred to as a 'mature' scar.
Coconut oil is another natural oil that's shown to help encourage skin tissue to heal, which may mean it's less likely to scar. Just massage the oil into your skin for around five minutes, three or four times a day. Coconut oil isn't advised for people with naturally oily skin.
By keeping the wound moist and protected from external irritants, Aquaphor provides an optimal environment for tissue regeneration and re-epithelialization. This enables the skin to heal properly with minimal scarring. Regular application helps minimize permanent marks or discoloration.
Use recommended products: Silicone strips, Arnica gel, medications, and supplements are among the products that may be recommended to speed up your healing process and soften your scars. 5. Avoid sun exposure: The delicate new skin that is forming as your incisions heal is particularly vulnerable to sun damage.
This will help keep the wound moist and allow it to heal faster with less scarring. Continue applying the petroleum jelly until the wound has fully healed. Open wounds heal more slowly. A large wound can take 4 weeks or more to heal.