Gently wash the area with mild soap and water to keep out germs and remove debris. To help the injured skin heal, use petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist. Petroleum jelly prevents the wound from drying out and forming a scab; wounds with scabs take longer to heal.
Topical treatments, such as vitamin E, cocoa butter cream, silicone gel,onion extract products, and several commercial skin care products like Vaseline and Aquaphor that are sold over the counter may be somewhat effective in helping to heal scars.
Collagen builds up where the tissue is damaged, helping to heal and strengthen the wound. New collagen continues forming for several months and the blood supply increases, causing the scar to become raised and lumpy.
Scar massage is an effective way to decrease scar tissue build up and help make scars less noticeable. Massage will not help soften a scar more than two years old.
Proteolytic enzymes break down scar tissue, thereby increasing tissue motility. Breaking down the scar tissue also gives the body an opportunity to replace it with the original type of tissue that was damaged for more complete healing. The body makes its own digestive enzymes called pancreatin.
Bio-Oil helps to improve the appearance of new or old scars; whether from surgery, accidents, burns, insect bites, scratches or conditions such as acne or chickenpox. Although younger scars will have a greater chance of improvement, studies have shown that older scars also benefit from regular use of Bio-Oil.
It can take up to 12-18 months after your injury or operation for a scar to heal. A normal scar will become darker initially and after a period of time this will start to fade. Dark scars can remain for years or indefinitely in people with darker skin.
Increased temperature is a common physiological effect that helps to break down scar tissue. Increased temperature involves both superficial and deep tissues increasing in temperature. Increasing temperature of tissues within the body helps to loosen scar tissue.
You can use any type of over-the-counter cream such as Vaseline, cocoa butter or hand lotion for this. The tissue should be massaged in the direction of the scar for ten minutes twice a day. This is useful for 3-6 months or for as long as it seems to be helping.
To help your scar mature it is recommended that you massage and moisturise your scar. Please refer to the handout titled 'Scar management – Massage and moisturising'. All scars should be monitored carefully and if your scar becomes a problem contact your doctor or occupational therapist.
Bio-Oil shouldn't be used if your skin is cracked, bleeding, or broken. The oil's vitamin A content may help exfoliate the skin and encourage new skin cells to form. This accelerates the scar healing process. Vitamin E is shown in some studies to reduce the appearance of scars.
We recommend applying Bio-Oil Skincare Oil to your scar as soon as the skin is fully healed. This is known as the 'maturation' or 'remodelling' phase of scar formation. Remember that for best results to be seen, Bio-Oil Skincare Oil should be applied twice daily for a minimum of three months.
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil should be massaged in a circular motion into scars (avoiding broken skin), twice daily, for a minimum of 3 months. Results will vary from individual to individual. You can use Bio-Oil Skincare Oil on a scar as soon as the skin on the surface has fully healed.
Treatments can reduce a scar's size or appearance, but the scar will never completely go away. Some treatments prevent a scar from forming as a wound heals. Scar treatments include: Dermabrasion: A common acne scar treatment, dermabrasion removes the top layer of skin by gently “sanding” the skin.
Scar tissue remodeling occurs as you start to stretch and pull on it. The stretching of the scar tissue helps to align the collagen fibers to allow them to return to normal. This realignment of the collagen fibers makes the tissue better able to tolerate the forces that are placed on it during the day.
Astym treatment is effective at reducing or eliminating internal scar tissue or adhesions. Once the scar tissue and adhesions are reduced or removed, stiffness and aches and pains often go away. Astym's resolution rates (outcomes) for scar tissue and adhesion-related pain are impressive.
In general, it takes about six to eight weeks for injured tissue to remodel entirely.
If a patient massages their scar prematurely it could cause the wound to tear or reopen, risking an infection. It's therefore important to advise them to not begin massaging until the wound is fully healed.
Scar tissue pain is usually caused by damage to the nerves or when a nerve is compressed by the scar. In some cases, such as amputations, neuromas (painful swellings) may form at the end of severed nerves, firing uncontrollable pain signals to the brain. Pain in stump scarring is relatively common.
Vibration can help with scars that are very sensitive, therapists use vibration to break up scar tissue. When introducing vibration for scar management, allow the patient to be in charge of doing the massage as they are able to identify if the vibration is too painful.