If you've sustained an injury, large or small, a scar may eventually form. It is a natural consequence of the healing process: the collagen present in the deeper layers of the skin rises outwards and is fixed on the surface of the skin to "close" the wound; during this process it forms a scar. There are no miracle home remedies to avoid scarring, but there are some things you can do to affect how they form and develop during the natural healing process.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Treat the Wound
Step 1. Clean it
The first thing to do to allow the wound to start healing naturally is to cleanse the area. Make sure there is no foreign material left inside the wound that could lead to an infection.
- Use soap and water. Gently wash the area with mild soap and warm water to clean the wound. Get some dry, clean material to apply pressure and stop the bleeding.
- Do not use hydrogen peroxide for this procedure. As the body starts making new skin cells right away, hydrogen peroxide could destroy them and increase the risk of scarring early in the treatment.
Step 2. Determine if medical attention is needed
Among the wounds that require medical attention are those caused by piercing objects that have entered deeply, those that continue to bleed profusely, those that are deep accompanied by bone fractures, those in which a tendon, ligament or bone is visible, which found on the face, which were caused by an animal bite, showing torn or jagged flaps of skin and old wounds reopening.
- Depending on the severity of the injury, stitches may be needed, which can actually help reduce the risk of scarring. Once you've ruled out the need for medical treatment and / or stitches, you can take care of the wound with home remedies.
- If you have a wound on your face, it would be ideal for a plastic surgeon to do the stitches. This professional figure is usually more experienced and able to use techniques capable of minimizing the formation of scars.
Step 3. Apply petroleum jelly
This product keeps the wound area moist, promoting healing and avoiding the formation of scabs. Petroleum jelly does not interfere with the natural healing process, on the contrary, it can speed it up.
- If a scar forms, apply this substance to reduce its size as the tissues heal.
- The scab is the body's natural response to an injury and is meant to protect the injury; however, the scar begins to form just below the scab.
- In the healing phase, the body brings collagen to the skin surface to reconnect broken and damaged tissues.
- At this point, a temporary crust forms on top of the collagen. This begins to repair the tissues and at the same time triggers the scar formation, just below the scab layer.
Step 4. Use hydrogel sheets or silicone gel bandages
Some studies have found that these products are able to reduce scarring by keeping wound tissues moist during the healing process.
- The gauze with hydrogel and silicone act by promoting the natural exchange of liquids between healthy and damaged tissues. They are compressive bandages that keep the area moist, thus preventing the formation of scars.
- If you decide to use one of these products, which you can find for sale without a prescription, follow the directions on the package. Each brand has specific methods of use.
- There are other similar products on the market with reduced cost. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about silicone sheets for the aesthetic treatment of scars.
- Continue applying the moisturizing / compression bandages for several weeks or longer to reduce scar formation and size.
- If you have decided to use silicone sheets, hydrogels or their cheaper substitutes, it is not necessary to use petroleum jelly, as these products moisturize the wound just as effectively.
- Examine the lesion every day to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment in your specific case. You can decide to change the type of bandage material if the tissues are not properly moist and you notice that a scar is forming.
Step 5. Cover the wound
Use an appropriately sized bandage to protect, maintain, and completely cover the wound. Exposure to air does not compromise the healing process, but it does not prevent scar formation. In fact, this blemish is more likely to develop when you leave the injured area in the air and do not protect it.
- Exposure to air encourages fabrics to dry out, as a result scabs form. The latter function as a barrier that contributes to the development of scar tissue.
- If your skin is sensitive to adhesives, choose glue-free gauze and use medical tape or paper to secure the edges.
- Use a butterfly patch if necessary. This type of patch holds the skin flaps of the wound together. Make sure you use a pattern that is long enough to allow the petroleum jelly or moisturizer to act on the wound without compromising the adhesion to the surrounding area.
- Even if you use the butterfly patch, you still need to cover the area with gauze or a bandage large enough to protect it, to reduce the risk of infection and further injury.
Step 6. Change the dressing every day
Clean the area daily, make sure there is no infection, keep it hydrated by applying more petroleum jelly and cover it well.
- If the butterfly patch is snug and there are no signs of infection, you can leave the bandage in place.
- As you clean the wound, change the dressing, and reapply the petroleum jelly, observe the wound every day to make sure it is getting better or to see if it is becoming infected.
- When you realize that the new skin is growing healthily, which can take 7 to 10 days, you can extend the time between dressings by a few days, as long as the area remains moist. Stop treatment when the wound heals completely.
Step 7. Check for signs of infection
Change the bandage every day and on that occasion clean the area with water, mild soap and clean material; make sure there are no signs of infection. Wounds can sometimes become infected despite the best of care.
- See your doctor as soon as possible if you think the wound is infected. He will advise you to use a topical antibiotic ointment or prescribe oral antibiotics to take for a certain period of time.
- Signs of infection may include redness or swelling of the area, warmth to the touch, red streaks branching off the sore, pus or other fluid that has accumulated under the skin or leaking, bad odor from the sore, throbbing or unusual tenderness in the area, chills or fever.
Part 2 of 3: Preventing Scar Formation
Step 1. Massage the area
During the healing phase, the massage helps to degrade the collagen formation that causes the scar. Make sure you don't reopen the wound while it's healing.
- The massage breaks the collagen bonds preventing the formation of solid areas of this protein that connects the new skin in the development phase. This action prevents scar formation or reduces its size.
- Massage the injured area several times a day by making circular motions for 15-30 seconds for each session.
- Apply a specific lotion or cream for the prevention of scars to complement the action of the massage. There are many products on the market that do not require a doctor's prescription.
- One of the most popular contains various concentrations of active ingredients, such as onion peel extract, which have been shown to be somewhat effective. Other products contain a mix of ingredients that help keep the area hydrated to reduce scarring.
Step 2. Apply pressure
Gentle and constant pressure on the wound also helps to prevent or minimize scarring. Focus especially on the area where the blemish is most likely to develop.
- You can use bandages to apply pressure. There are other specifically designed products, in addition to the hydrogel and silicone sheets previously described, which help maintain constant pressure on the wound area and protect it at the same time.
- Ask your doctor to show you how to safely create a custom compression bandage. Among the different solutions, you could use regular dressing material to create a thicker bandage than usual that you can apply directly to the area where the scar could form.
- If the area to be treated is large or there is a risk that the scar is very noticeable, you can get a compression device to wear during the day for a period of 4 to 6 months. It is an expensive and risky appliance, you should contact your doctor or plastic surgeon for an evaluation and advice on the merit.
- An animal study found that compression therapy on the wound led to a significant and lasting improvement, a reduction in the thickness of the scar's dermis layer, and an increase in blood circulation in the treated area.
Step 3. Apply an elastic band
When the area has healed and there is no longer the risk that the wound will reopen, apply a neuromuscular elastic bandage following a precise arrangement to lift the skin, improve circulation in the area under the wound and avoid the development of scars.
- The most common brand of this type of bandage is also the name of the application technique: Kinesio Taping.
- Wait two to four months after the injury to make sure the wound has healed completely.
- According to the precise point where the wound was formed, to its depth and size, there are different schemes of application of the elastic bandage. Work with your doctor, physical therapist, or personal trainer to find out which arrangement is appropriate for your situation.
- One of the most popular criteria for preventing scarring is to apply a single strip of tape across the entire wound. It pulls the material about 25-50% of its elasticity. Apply the tape by massaging it on the wound area.
- Gradually increase the tension of the tape over time, as long as the skin is able to tolerate this pull without pulling or tearing.
- The Kinesio Taping technique is most effective in preventing scarring, if you follow a disposition that allows you to lift the skin, promote circulation and break the formation of collagen. Talk to your doctor, physical therapist, or personal trainer to learn about the best ways to apply tape for your specific case.
Step 4. Reduce movement
The tension and movement increase the width of the scar tissue, so do your best to avoid activities that involve some pulling on the skin surrounding the injury.
- Make gentle movements if the wound is near a joint, such as the knee or elbow. You must be able to restore the joint to full range of motion without reopening the wound.
- Continue to do regular exercise or your activities as normal if they do not adversely interfere with the healing of the injury. Physical activity improves blood circulation throughout the body, which in turn plays a vital role in the recovery process.
Part 3 of 3: Promote Healing
Step 1. Protect the injury from sun exposure
Apply sunscreen to protect new skin as soon as the wound has healed and you no longer have to constantly cover it with a dressing.
- Ultraviolet rays from the sun can slow down the healing process. Make sure the wound is well healed before removing the bandage that acts as a barrier between the skin and sunlight.
- The sun also triggers the production of skin pigments. This means that new skin may turn red or brown, making the scar even more noticeable if it forms.
- Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that has a minimum SPF of 30.
Step 2. Eat a healthy diet that helps heal the wound
A balanced diet provides the body with important nutrients to heal tissue damage. The basic elements are vitamin C, proteins and zinc.
- Increase your consumption of foods rich in vitamin C. There is evidence that increasing this nutrient in your daily diet can limit the development of scar tissue following a recent injury. Although it is available as a supplement, it is possible to get it through food.
- Ask your doctor for advice on dosage. Most people can eat more vitamin C-rich foods to gain more and help wound healing. A higher than average dose is justified in some cases, but should only be taken under close medical supervision.
- Vitamin C is processed quickly by the body, so include foods that are rich in it in every meal and, if possible, even in snacks.
- Vegetables that contain this nutrient are sweet peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, and cabbage. Fruits rich in vitamin C are oranges, strawberries, melon, mandarins and grapefruits.
- Some recent studies suggest that a higher consumption of vitamin C, through diet or supplements, in combination with the topical application of ointments that contain it, is able to prevent the formation of scars. Creams with vitamin C have a variable concentration between 5 and 10%.
- Increase the amount of zinc you get in your diet by eating foods like liver, beef, and shellfish like crab. Zinc is also found in sunflower seeds, almonds, peanut butter, dairy products and eggs.
- Protein is the key to allowing the body to regenerate damaged skin. Eggs, milk, cheeses, fish, shellfish, tuna, chicken, turkey and red meat are sources of protein.
Step 3. Increase your consumption of curcumin
This element is present in turmeric, a plant widely used in Indian cuisine.
- An animal study showed a positive correlation between this food and the control of the inflammatory response, which in turn improved the wound healing process. The research authors concluded that there may be a positive relationship between turmeric, healing of damaged tissue and prevention of scarring.
- There is little evidence to support the use of turmeric other than this animal study.
Step 4. Apply honey to the wound
Research into the use of honey as a remedy to heal wounds is still somewhat debated, but there is sufficient evidence to support the medical use of honey to accelerate healing of some types of wounds. When skin damage resolves quickly, there is less risk of scarring.
- The most recommended honey for medical purposes and to treat wounds is called manuka honey. This product was approved by the American FDA in 2007 and is a suitable treatment for wounds.
- It is not easy to find this type of honey, as it is only produced in certain parts of the world where the manuka tree grows spontaneously.
- The high demand for this product makes it the subject of numerous counterfeiting attempts, so be very cautious when buying it.
- Treat the wound by applying a small amount of manuka honey to the sterile gauze. Lay the tissue over the wound and close the edges with medical tape to prevent the honey from spilling.
- Clean the area to be treated and change the dressing several times a day, monitoring for signs of infection.
Step 5. Apply aloe vera
Again, scientific evidence is limited. Manufacturers continue to praise the benefits of this plant on wounds, traditional Chinese medicine and other cultures continue to use the gel both topically and systemically.
- More recent medical and scientific publications do not provide adequate support for these claims regarding wound healing. However, the authors of the studies recommend that additional controlled tests be performed to analyze and describe the healing properties of aloe vera.
- Commercial aloe vera gels typically also contain vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as other enzymes, amino acids, sugars, and minerals.
- It is not recommended to take aloe vera by mouth, as there is not yet enough evidence on its efficacy and toxicity.
Step 6. Don't rely on vitamin E
Although its wound healing properties and its ability to prevent scarring by applying it to recent wounds have been extolled for years, current scientific research has found that it is absolutely not helpful against scar tissue formation.
- Some studies show that vitamin E applied to the lesion prevents the skin's natural recovery process.
- Another research has established that topical application of this vitamin can trigger new allergic reactions in 30% of people who use it.
Step 7. Avoid antibiotic creams and ointments
Unless there are clear signs of infection or they have been prescribed to you by your doctor, there is no need to use them.
- More and more diseases are showing signs of antibiotic resistance due to unnecessary, repeated or prolonged use of these drugs.
- These medicines also include topical medicines and antibacterials sold without a prescription.
