The appearance of scars is a natural aspect that heals the human body. The body creates new collagen-based tissues to fill in the gaps when skin becomes damaged by an injury or accident, as per the Cleveland Clinic. “Scars form after the healing process because the new collagen made to fill in the wound is not the same texture as the surrounding skin,” says Jill Salyards Do, an experienced dermatologist board certified and the co-founder of Refine Dermatology in Knoxville, Tennessee. “Most wounds result in some degree of scarring, except for very superficial wounds on the surface.”
There aren’t all scars identical. The kind of scar and the appearance are, in large part, dependent on how the wound is treated as it heals. The severity of the injury can affect the amount of scarring. “The deeper the injury, the greater the likelihood of scarring,” says Jeremy Brauer, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who founded Spectrum Skin and Laser in Purchase, New York. Scars are usually round or raised. Normal wounds will produce flat spots that have a similar color to your skin tone of yours and become bland over time. They are less visible than raised scars, like Keloid hypertrophic and keloid scars resulting from thick tissue. They may appear reddish and dark in comparison to the skin around them. Stretch marks are another kind of scar.
A visible scar is likely to draw attention and can cause anxiety. So, some individuals may prefer to avoid or minimize them while the wound is healing. Some might want to heal the discomfort or pain of marks. But, ultimately, stopping scars is an individual decision. If your injuries don’t trigger unpleasant side effects, like itching or pain, There’s no need to fret about treatment. Some individuals may be proud of their scars, like women who have been through C-sections and others who have endured significant health problems and consider those scars as battlefield injuries.
How you take care of the wound may reduce or even eliminate scarring should you choose to avoid it, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). With this in mind, there are ten rules and don’ts to avoid fresh wounds from leaving marks.
Do Keep the Wound Clean
As per the National Library of Medicine, a wound that has been cut or broken can increase the risk of infection from bacteria. The injury will heal over time dermatologists suggest cleaning the damage throughout the healing process.
“Immediately after a wound occurs, it should be kept clean,” Dr. Salyards suggests. The first thought is to go out and buy a bottle of hydrogen peroxide or another antiseptic, but she warns that this can cause scarring to become more severe. “Hydrogen peroxide can increase inflammation and destruction to the healing skin, increasing scarring,” she says. Antiseptics, such as rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, could destroy skin tissue and should not be used to cleanse wounds, as per a review published in 2019 by the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery International The Open.
The doctor. Brauer suggests continuing to clean the wound until it’s healed. Please feel free to get too excited about it. The AAD suggests you clean your wounds using mild soap and water. The Cleveland Clinic also offers that soap and water are the best choice, recommending that you cleanse thoroughly and then wipe your hands dry before drying them.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Get Stitches
It’s not always necessary for wounds to heal, but based on the extent of the damage, you may benefit from receiving stitches. Scars develop when the wound heals, and stitches may aid in closing and healing the wound faster. They also can help reduce visible scarring, according to the AAD.
You should wait until you determine if deep cuts heal themselves before obtaining stitches. However, dermatologists advise against this. “If stitches are needed, they must be sewn as soon as possible when the injury is new,” states Aanand N. Geria, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Geria Dermatology in Rutherford, New Jersey. “If too much time passes, germs or bacteria can accumulate in the wound, and a dermatologist may elect not to stitch because of the risk of infection.”
If you need clarification on whether you require stitches for your wound, doctor. Geria suggests seeing a doctor as soon as possible for an examination.
Do Keep the Wound Moist
After cleansing the wound, ensure that it is kept moist to avoid the formation of scars, Brauer says. “Generally, any emollient like petrolatum will delay scab formation,” Brauer declares. According to an earlier review keeping wounds moist leads to less scarring than treatments in dry environments. Much research has been conducted on wet, humid, and dry healing for scar formation. In addition, damp recovery has resulted in the fastest healing process and the least amount of scarring, per the review published in The International Journal of Inflammation.
“Moisturize with petroleum jelly and cover with a bandage,” Salyards recommends. “This should be continued until the open wound is completely healed with new skin or until sutures are removed.”
Don’t Pick at the Wound
In general, dermatologists advise not to pick at your skin in any way. If it’s an active breakout or a fresh wound, picking at it can cause more harm. It can aggravate acne and cause scarring, as per AAD. AAD.
As well as picking, avoiding damaging, or manipulating wounds or scabs that have formed recently. “Picking at wounds during the healing process increases inflammation and scarring,” Salyards states. This can increase the risk of getting infected by bacteria in your hands.
People with dermatillomania tend to pick at their skin, but this can cause wounds, infections, or scarring, as per the Cleveland Clinic. The skin that you choose can cause injuries that have been closed, which can delay the healing process.
Therefore allow your skin to heal naturally. Please don’t touch any of the wounds with clean hands; only when you have to wash and moisturize them or replace the dressings.
Do Use a Wound Dressing
The dressing for a wound comes into direct contact with the wounded. It can help protect the damage, keep it moist, and protect it from exposure to surroundings. Gauze and bandages assist in keeping the damage clean. They should be replaced regularly, according to guidelines from the Mayo Clinic. Some dressings help remove drainage from wounds and dead tissue after being changed by the National Library of Medicine.
“Keep wounds covered with a dressing that has a nonstick surface,” Brauer suggests. “Don’t expose the wound to air or let it dry out.” The dressing may utilize adhesive or glue to adhere to the skin, but it does not.
A wound dressing offers the advantage of using pressure on the wounded area as per the AAD recommendation for pressure therapy to reduce and prevent the formation of scars.
Don’t Skip Sun Protection
Ideally, everyone should apply sunscreen every day. The Skin Cancer Foundation says it helps protect from sun-related skin cancer and sun damage. If you’re suffering from an injury or wound recently and wish to minimize the scarring potential, dermatologists recommend the sun’s protection seriously.
“Wearing SPF 30 or greater daily and reapplying every two hours outdoors is the general recommendation,” Salyards states. “Sunscreen use can be effective in preventing scars.” Brauer recommends taking it one step further by ensuring the area is kept out of direct sunlight for a total of.
Simply securing your wound from sunlight can make it fade more quickly. If you’ve ever experienced the tan, you’re aware of the effect of the sun creating skin that appears darker, and scars aren’t the only exception. According to a prior review, the protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation has reduced scar hyperpigmentation caused by a pigment called melanin that is produced.
It is recommended that the AAD suggests using an all-weather and broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more for regular usage. Other methods to shield your skin from harmful UV rays are getting shade by wearing sun-safe clothing and avoiding tanning beds in indoor areas.
Do Use Silicone Scar Sheets
While petroleum jelly and vitamin E haven’t been shown to be efficient in reducing scars, according to the National Library of Medicine, silicone gel sheets and gel gels offer. Some alternatives may help keep open wounds damp, but dermatologists recommend silicone sheets to reduce scars when the damage is healed.
“Silicone scar sheets can help prevent or improve new scars if used right after an injury,” Geria says. Geria adds that it’s crucial to use them within the first year that a scar is visible. Following that, they may need to be more efficient. Save time.
The efficacy of gels made from silicone and sheets is familiar. They’re still the preferred first-line treatment for scars by medical professionals, as per a prior study. A meta-analysis published in 2020 in the International Wound Journal shows that silicone gel reduces scarring pigmentation and height, while sheets are exactly as effective.
“Silicone scar gels or sheets should be used over the wound once it is healed, as it has been shown to be effective in scar prevention,” Says Salyards. “When used regularly for 2 to 3 months, silicone has been shown to be effective in preventing and improving the appearance of scars.”
Don’t Overexert the Area
If you’ve got the first scar, you should be careful to avoid moving the area too much, according to instructions from Cleveland Clinic. “Stay still,” says Geria. “When a scar moves, it alters its formation and turns it into a thicker or wider scar,” Geria explains. “Do your best to allow the wound to heal by not overexerting the area.”
Instead, what you can do is gently massage the area. “Gently massaging early on can greatly impact healing, especially during the first year,” Geria says. Geria adds that it assists in breaking up the tissues, which can lead to the formation of thick scars. It is necessary to conduct more research; however, massage therapy could help reduce pain and decrease the size of spots in hypertrophic and burn scars, as per the findings of a study published in 2020 by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Do Be Wary of Scar Creams and Topical Products
Before you go for the top-selling scar creams, take a second look. Sure, dermatologists are skeptical about the effectiveness of these products. “Not all scar creams are created equally,” Salyards declares. Her advice is to utilize silicone sheets in place for scar creams.
If you’re considering using an application for scars, use silicone gel. Scar sheets made of silicone and silicon have proven equally efficient, according to a study published in 2020 by Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. Both have significantly improved the outcomes of scars, and the evidence supporting other scar management techniques on the skin is insufficient, as per the review published in 2020 by the journal Dermatologic Surgery.
Don’t Have Unrealistic Expectations
Wounds can take a while to heal, and the resulting scars require time to diminish. It is essential to be patient and establish realistic expectations about how your injuries will appear and if they improve.
If you’ve done everything right – keep your wounds dry and clean, and use the silicone sheet for scars, sunscreen, and so on. Certain factors are beyond your control. As per an article, certain people are more susceptible to keloid scars, for instance, those with darker skin tones.
It’s not likely that a mark will completely disappear. The scars will remain, but they may fade with time. If your scars are bothering you, some treatments can reduce the appearance of your scars.
Getting Treatment for Scars
Prevention of wounds is the most effective method to avoid scarring; however, taking care of active injuries is the next step. Keep your injuries dry and clean by washing them with soapy, warm water and dressings for damages, such as gauze. After the skin has healed, replace the dressings with silicone gel sheets that are the most effective for minimizing the appearance of new marks. If you continue to use them, you should notice improvements in some months.
Scars disappear over time. Yet keloid scars don’t go away. Based on the kind of scar treatments offered by the dermatologist’s office can help. Based on John Hopkins Medicine, The following treatments for scars are available:
- Lasers
- Dermabrasion
- Chemical peels
- Steroid injections or collagen
- Revision surgery
- Cryosurgery
- Skin grafts
Discuss with your dermatologist for advice on the appropriate treatment for you.