Anecdotal reports claim that vitamin E speeds wound healing and improves the cosmetic outcome of burns and other wounds. 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.
The research indicates that people who have undergone surgery may be able to use vitamin E to prevent the formation of keloid scars because vitamin E helps wound healing.
There is little clinical evidence that vitamin E oil or supplements can help reduce the appearance of scars. There is some anecdotal evidence, but the positive effects people notice may result from moisturizing or massaging the scar, rather than from the vitamin E itself.
Vitamin Deficiency
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and boosts healing. It is also needed for the body to make Collagen (protein that forms scar tissue) eat high C foods such as broccoli, tomatoes, cabbage and oranges. Foods rich in Vitamin D improve your immune system and help stave off infections.
Reopening of old wounds.
There isn't enough collagen left in your body to continue creating scar tissue, so old wounds may start opening. Mucous membranes (which include your lips, mouth, nasal passages, and middle ear) may also bleed.
Vitamin D has also been evaluated in studies (PubMed) with severe scarring. With severe burns to the skin, the vitamin D levels are dramatically lowered. It is vital to add vitamin D back into the patient's system to support to heal the burn and minimize scarring.
Mederma: Although it is often recommended by physicians, this scar gel, which contains an onion extract, has no solid scientific evidence to support its use. Vitamin E: Although it is commonly used in anti-scarring products, clinical studies are disappointing.
Some people use certain essential oils — such as Helichrysum, lavender, or tea tree oils — on the skin to promote wound healing and reduce the appearance of scars.
WHY IS VITAMIN C GOOD FOR YOUR SCARS? Vitamin C is great for not only clearing up existing acne, but also healing scars that are caused by acne. Vitamin C can be used topically to help with existing scars or it can be ingested in order to begin working on diminishing scars.
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.
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.
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.
The findings also show that a vitamin C intake that averages to 65 mg/d over a mean follow-up of 6.5 mo failed to restore the normal wound-healing capacity of vitamin C–depleted tissues; such tissues had a 49% weaker scar strength when compared with nondepleted tissues (P < 0.05).
Sugar can also worsen scar tissue formation, such as hypertrophic or keloid scars. Avoid hidden sugars in processed foods, soft drinks, and sweets. Nitrates found in processed meats like bacon, salami, and hot dogs may impair blood vessel function, reducing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to healing tissues.
Lasers and other light treatments: This is becoming the go-to treatment for all types of scars because these treatments can: Prevent raised scars and keloids. Reduce the appearance of existing raised scars and keloids. Decrease scarring after surgery.
In 90% of the cases in this study, topical vitamin E either had no effect on, or actually worsened, the cosmetic appearance of scars. Of the patients studied, 33% developed a contact dermatitis to the vitamin E. Therefore we conclude that use of topical vitamin E on surgical wounds should be discouraged.
Brown has reviewed at least three controlled studies showing no proven benefit when Mederma is used for scar treatment. You would see more benefit from applying lotion or Vaseline to a scar – three times per day for 8 weeks – than you would following the same regimen with Mederma.
Application of a triple antibiotic ointment (such as over-the-counter Bacitracin, Neosporin or Polysporin) three times a day to the wound for a full three weeks helps prevent infection and creates a better foundation for improved long-term scar appearance.
Low Vitamin D Levels Associated with Scarring Lung Disease | Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Erythema is derived from the Greek erythros, which refers to the redness of skin or mucous membrane. Erythema is common in pathological scars (hypertrophic scar and keloid) and premature physiological scars where inflammation-induced angiogenesis and capillary dilation are mostly responsible.