It is very important to keep any new scars out of the sun for six months to one year. Basically, it should be covered until it turns into a mature scar. The best way to keep a scar out of the sun is to cover it with clothing, some sort of tape or even an adhesive bandage if it is small enough.
Protect your scar from sunlight.
Your scar is very sensitive to strong sunlight and can burn easily, so please try to avoid exposing your scar to the sun. You should use a very strong sunblock (SPF 30 or higher) on your scar for 18 months after the surgery/injury that caused the scar.
“If you're not protecting a scar from ultraviolet light with zinc oxide or high-level sunscreen, it can increase scar formation and lead to hyper-pigmentation,” Enz says. Sun exposure not only affects a scar's appearance, but also how quickly your tissue heals.
The sun does not technically make the scar worse, however your scar will be more susceptible to sun damage than undamaged skin. Hence it is important to wear sun protection daily on the scar.
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.
“Usually the scars will heal rather quickly - within the course of a few weeks to one or two months - but you may not see final results for up to a year. Individual factors also influence how quickly your body is able to recover from a wound.” In older patients, or where the skin is more lax, scars settle more rapidly.
“Scratching the wound or picking at the scab causes more inflammation, making a scar more likely,” Hultman says.
During the scar healing process, the color of the scar will fade and its volume will decrease. This stage lasts for an average of 3 to 6 months. The scar then enters its final phase when it begins to become paler and softer (remodeling).
Now that you're older, wounds can take much longer to heal — sometimes many months. "The body's capacity to repair the skin diminishes as we get older. There aren't as many growth factors and stem cells in the skin.
A good application of Vaseline maintains a conducive level of moisture around the wound, making a recovery as quick as 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the type of surgery.
Use Vaseline® Jelly for Scars
By sealing in moisture it also helps to reduce dryness of scarred skin, once your skin has healed. This may help to improve the appearance of scars, making the skin look smoother and softer, as well as help to reduce itchiness caused by dryness.
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.
Massaging your scars is important. It keeps the tissue around the incision loose so it doesn't “stick” to the tissue underneath. Wait until after your skin has healed before you start massaging your scar. Your skin will be healed when the edges of the scar are well closed with no gaps, and have no drainage.
Cocoa butter works as a great moisturizer. It has lightening properties, which help fade acne scars and lighten skin tone. Take some cocoa butter and apply it evenly on your face. Leave it on overnight and rinse it off the next morning.
You should start massaging your scars two weeks after surgery. Wait until the sutures have been removed and all scabs have fallen off by themselves.
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.
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.
Experts agree that in-office laser treatments are the most effective way to improve the appearance of scars. “Lasers can target pigment in the scar or help remodel the collagen to heal the scar texture,” board-certified dermatologist Dr.
Studies have shown a reduction in keloid (thick, raised scars) with silicone sheets. Anecdotally, many surgeons feel sheeting helps normal scars heal better.
UV-protection
Scarban silicone sheets (both Elastic and Light) also protect scars from sunlight, which is crucial for damaged skin. Even when it's cloudy, the sun's UV rays are powerful enough to easily penetrate your skin and cause damage.
Mature scars can also flatten out as they go through this aging process, but it's important to note that scars will never go away completely. Even with some scar treatments, the appearance will be improved, but they will never totally disappear because the skin composition is different from the surrounding tissues.
Scars seem to get worse before they get better. For about six weeks after surgery the scar becomes red, firm and hard. This is the body's way of making a very strong and solid scar. Over the next four months the scar will soften and lose the redness.
He explains that “a scar is actually a bunch of unorganized collagen in the dermal layer of the skin.” Over time, the tissue will try to reorganize, and the scar may appear to soften, but the skin may never completely return to its original state — particularly if the cut extends beyond the epidermis, the skin's outer ...