Preventing Scarring
Plain and simply, the faster a cut heals, the less scarring there will be. So, it follows that the
smaller the cut, the less scarring there will be. A large cut can be made smaller if the edges are
somehow held together so that the cut takes up less surface area. This is ideally done with sutures,
although in some cases steri strips are enough. Closing the cut once its been disinfected will also
prevent infectious substances from getting in. Infection prolongs healing and causes more damage to
the tissue, so preventing infection will reduce the chance of excessive scarring. Products such as
Neosporin and Bacitracin also help to speed healing and prevent infection and can be very effective in
reducing scarring as the cut heals. You can also lessen tissue damage by cleaning cuts with a mild
antibacterial soap instead of harsh cleansers like peroxide, iodine, or betadine. Those products
kill germs, but they also damage healthy tissue which can lead to increased scarring.
Reducing Scarring (Normal Scar Tissue)
If the cut develops normal scar tissue (flat, light, painless), then there's not much that can be
done to make it less obvious. Makeup can be used to cover it. It's been theorized that if you have
skin color that stays pretty uniform year round, you could tattoo the scar tissue the same color as
your natural skin. That would only work on scars that are paler than the rest of the skin, because a
tattoo can make something darker, but it can't make something lighter. I've yet to try this, or hear
from anyone else who has tried it, but according to several respected tattoo artists, it's very
definitely possible. There are also various surgeries which effectively reduce or remove scar tissue,
however these are expensive and have variable results. In addition, a doctor will typically insist
that a person be recovered from their self injury for a certain amount of time before they will perform
surgery to eliminate or reduce self inflicted scarring.
Reducing Scarring (Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars)
If a scar is hypertrophic or keloidal (raised, dark, sensative), then there are a few other options
which will reduce the appearance of the scar, effectively turning it into normal scar tissue. I'm
prone to hypertrophic scars, and I've been seeing good results with silicone sheets. These are just
thin flat pieces of silicone which you tape on top of the scar with special water based adhesive tape.
You can leave the sheet on all day, or just at night, or for a few hours per day, as long as you take
it off at least once a day to wash it with a mild soap. Of course the longer you leave it on, the
faster you'll see results. The sheets can be washed and reused indefinitely.
It's not known exactly how or why silicone sheets work to reduce scarring, but the scars that I've
used this treatment on because noticable lighter and flatter in a fairly short period of time. Its not
a miracle cure, and it doesn't work for everyone, but in my opinion, its definitely worth trying if you
have this type of scarring. The price of the products range from approximately $25 to $60 for similar
sized sheets. I'm not sure, but I don't think that there's any difference in quality or effectiveness
between the more expensive and the less expensive brands. The tape can be ordered from any of the
companies linked below, or you can buy it at places like Wal Mart in the first aid section. Any paper
tape with a water soluble adhesive will work, but the recommended kind is called Micropore.
Please see these links for more information about various
silicone scar treatment products.
* I am not a doctor or a
medical professional of any kind. The information found here consists of knowledge
gained from a variety of sources, including research and personal experiences. I
believe it to be good and accurate advice, but please follow it at your own discretion.
If in doubt, play it safe and go to a doctor.
back
Home