How to Prevent Scars

A long-term wound, no matter how big or small, can leave you with a scar. This is a natural result of the wound healing process: cplagen in the deeper layers of the skin is exposed and rises to the surface to “close” the wound, and a scar has formed in the process. There is no magic home remedy to stop scarring, but there are some things you can do to influence the growth and healing of scar tissue during the healing process.

Table of Contents

Treating Wounds

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Sponge. The first step that allows the wound to begin its natural healing process is to clean the injured skin. Make sure no foreign object gets stuck in the wound, as it could cause an infection. ^{[1] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Use soap and water. Gently wash the injured area with mild soap and warm water. Apply clean, dry material to the wound to stop bleeding.
Avoid using hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound. As the body begins to produce new skin cells, hydrogen peroxide destroys these cells and increases the likelihood of scarring early in the healing process.

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Determine if you need medical attention. Wounds that may require special care are wounds caused by sharp objects penetrating the skin, wounds that bleed continuously, wounds that are deep, with fractures, tendons, ligaments, or bones inside. , a wound to the face, an animal bite wound, a wound that has torn or torn layers of skin, or it has left an existing wound open.

Depending on the severity, the wound may need stitches or stitches. In fact, stitching can help reduce the risk of scarring. Once it has been determined that the wound does not require medical attention and/or stitches, perform wound care at home.
If the wound is on the face, it may be necessary for a plastic surgeon to stitch the wound for you, as plastic surgeons are able to use specialized techniques to minimize the possibility of scarring.

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Apply mineral oil petrpeum jelly. Petrpeum jelly helps maintain moisture in the injured skin, promotes healing and prevents scaling. Petrpeum jelly does not inhibit the natural healing process of the wound, but actually speeds it up. ^{[2] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

If a scar does form, the use of petrpeum jelly can help reduce the size of the scar as the tissue heals.
Scaling is the body’s natural process of forming a new protective outer layer of wound; however, scars begin to form just below that scab.
As the body heals itself, cplagen is brought to the surface of the skin to repair broken or damaged tissue.
Then a temporary crust, i.e. scab, forms on top of the cplagen. As cplagen works to repair broken tissue, scars also begin to form just below the scab.

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Use a hydrogel patch or silicone gel bandage. Some evidence suggests that hydrogel patches or silicone gel dressings help reduce scar formation. These materials provide moisture to injured tissues throughout the healing process and help reduce scar formation. ^{[3] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Hydrogel patches and silicone gels work to support fluid exchange between healthy and damaged tissues. They are compression bandages that retain moisture in the tissues and thus aid in the prevention of scarring.
Follow the instructions on the label if you choose one of these products. You can buy it without a prescription. Manufacturers have recommendations for their products.
Similar products with lower prices are also available. Try asking your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter scar cosmetic patches.
Continue using the moisturizing/squeezing patch for weeks or even longer to reduce scar formation and size.
You don’t need petrpeum jelly if you’ve chosen to use hydrogel pads, silicone gel dressings, or other less expensive alternatives, as long as they provide enough moisture to the wound.
Test daily to determine the impact of the wound in your particular case. Consider changing dressings if tissues are not moist enough and scabs begin to form.

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Cover the wound. Use a bandage of the right size to cover the wound to protect the wound, keep the injured area closed and completely cover the wound. Exposure to air does not interfere with wound healing, but it also does not help prevent scarring. In fact, scars are more likely to form if you leave the wound uncovered and protected. ^{[4] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Exposure to air causes the wound to dry quickly and leads to scab formation. Scales act as a barrier that contributes to scar formation.
If you have skin that is sensitive to adhesives, you should use a non-stick patch and use paper or medical tape to cover.
Use butterfly tape. This bandage closes the two edges of the broken skin together. Make sure the bandage is long enough so that when you apply the petrpeum jelly, it is still enough to stick to the surrounding skin.
Even with butterfly bandages, you’ll still need to use gauze or a patch that’s large enough to completely cover the injured area to reduce the risk of infection or accidental further injury.

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Change the patch daily. Wash the wound daily, check for signs of infection, keep the wound moist by applying petrpeum jelly and cover with a bandage. ^{[5] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

If the butterfly flap is still firm and there are no signs of infection underneath, you can leave it as is.
Continue to monitor the wound daily for improvement or signs of infection while washing the wound, changing the patch, and reapplying petrpeum jelly.
When you see new skin forming in a good direction, this can take from seven to ten days, you can extend the time between changing patches to a few days, as long as enough moisture is still kept in the area. injured skin. Stop using this treatment when the skin has completely healed.

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Watch for signs of infection. Change the patch daily, clean the wound with mild soap and water each time the patch is changed, and check for any changes that signal an infection. Even the best-cared for wounds can become infected. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

See your doctor as soon as possible if you notice signs of infection. Your doctor may treat the wound with antibiotic products or may prescribe oral antibiotics for a period of time.
Signs of infection include redness or swelling in the injured area, warmth to the touch, raised red streaks in the skin around the wound, pus or fluid accumulating under the skin near the wound, or oozing. discharge from the wound, the wound has a foul odor, intermittent pain or an area of unusually soft skin, cold or fever.

Prevents Scar Formation

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Massage the injured skin. As the wound begins to heal, the massage will help disrupt the cplagen formation that causes scar tissue. Be careful not to reopen the healing wound. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

The massage disrupts cplagen bond formation and prevents the formation of cplagen hard zones that are associated with new skin growth. This movement prevents scarring from forming or reduces the size of the scar.
Massage the skin several times a day with circular movements, for 15 to 30 seconds each time.
Use a scar-preventing lotion or cream for extra support during the massage. You can buy a variety of products without a prescription.
A group of popular products with many advantages in ingredients, including onion peel extract, have been shown to have a certain effect. Another group of products contains ingredients that combine to help retain moisture in the skin and reduce scar formation.

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Press on the wound. Gently and evenly applying pressure to the wound can help prevent or reduce scarring. Concentrate pressure on the area most likely to leave a scar. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

There are bandages used to apply pressure to the wound. In addition to the hydrogel and silicone patches mentioned above, there are products designed to apply even pressure to the wound while protecting it.
Ask your doctor about making a compression bandage designed specifically for you. Options include the use of conventional dressings to thicken part of the standard dressing and can be applied directly to the area of potential scar formation.
For large scarred or raised areas, a presser is available for daytime use for 4 to 6 months. This is an expensive method and requires evaluation and recommendation by a physician or wound care professional.
An animal study using scar compression therapy showed significant and consistent results in improving scar skin, reducing the thickness of the layer of skin where there was a scar, and increasing blood circulation in the treated area. treat. ^{[9] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

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Use an elastic bandage. Once the damaged area has begun to heal and there is no danger of opening the wound, apply a special elastic bandage to tighten the skin, improve circulation to the area below the wound and prevent growth. scar. ^{[10] X Research Source}

The most familiar brand of this tape is Kinesio Taping.
Wait two to four weeks after the injury to make sure it heals completely.
Different dressing styles are recommended based on the location, depth, and length of the wound. Work with your doctor, therapist, or sports coach to find out which style is best for your injury.
A common dressing used to prevent scarring is to apply a layer or band of elastic along the length of the wound. Stretch about 25 -50% of the elasticity of the tape. Rub the bandage over the injured skin.
Gradually increase the tension when pressing the bandage, as long as the skin can withstand it without pulling or tearing.
Kinesio dressings are most effective in preventing scarring when applied in a skin-tightening dressing style that aids circulation and disrupts cplagen formation. Talk to your doctor, therapist, or sports coach to find out which style is right for your injury.

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Limit movement. Stress and movement will cause the scar to widen, so do your best to avoid activities that can cause the skin around the wound to stretch.

Move gently if the wound is in joint areas such as elbows or knees. While you may want to move freely as before, you need to be careful that the wound does not reopen.
Continue with regular exercise or activities, as long as there is no adverse effect on the wound. Exercise helps increase circulation in the body, a very important factor in the wound healing process.

Improve Wound Healing Outcomes

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Do not expose the wound to sunlight. Use sunscreen to protect the new layer of skin while the wound is healing and you no longer have to maintain a constant patch to cover the wound. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Ultraviolet rays from the sun can slow wound healing. Make sure the wound heals before you remove the cover material to protect the skin from the sun’s rays.
Sunlight also stimulates the pigment cells in the skin, making the new skin more prone to turning red or brown, making the scar more visible if it is formed.
Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

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Eating a nutritious diet promotes healing. Maintaining a healthy diet provides nutrients that enhance the ability of damaged tissue to heal. The key ingredients in the diet that promote wound healing are vitamin C, protein, and zinc. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Increase foods rich in vitamin C in the daily menu. There is evidence to support the recommendation to increase vitamin C intake to prevent scar tissue formation in new wounds. While vitamin C supplements are readily available, you can get vitamin C from your diet. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Check with your doctor to be sure of the dosage. Most people can fortify foods rich in vitamin C enough to promote healing. In some cases, higher doses of vitamin C can be used, but must be consulted by a doctor.
Vitamin C will be used up by the body, so you should eat foods rich in vitamin C at every meal, even as a snack.
Vegetables rich in vitamin C include bell peppers, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and cabbage. Fruits with high vitamin C content are oranges, strawberries, grapefruit, cantaloupe and tangerines.
Some recent research suggests that consuming more vitamin C with meals (or possibly as a supplement), along with the use of topical creams can help prevent scarring from forming. Topical vitamin C products include a variety of concentrations ranging from 5-10%.
Increase your zinc intake by eating foods like beef, liver, and seafood like crab. Zinc is also found in sunflower seeds, almonds, peanut butter, dairy products and eggs.
Protein is an essential nutrient that provides the nutrients the body needs to heal injured skin. Good sources of protein include dairy products such as eggs, milk, cheese, fish, shellfish, tuna, chicken, turkey, and red meat.

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Increase curcumin consumption. Curcumin is a spice extracted from ginger root, and is the main compound commonly found in turmeric, often used in Indian-style dishes. ^{[14] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

One animal study found a positive correlation in controlling the inflammatory response, leading to improved wound healing. The authors concluded that there was a positive association in promoting the healing of damaged tissues and the prevention of scarring.
There is evidence to support the use of curcumin beyond animal studies, although it is still limited.

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Apply honey on the wound. Research on the use of honey to promote wound healing is controversial, however there is enough evidence to support the use of medicinal honey to accelerate the healing of some wounds. Scars are less likely to form if the wound heals itself faster. ^{[15] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

The most recommended medicinal honey for wound healing is Manuka honey. Manuka honey was approved by the FDA in 2007 as a recommended option for wound healing.
This variety is relatively difficult to find as it is generally only produced in certain regions of the earth where the Manuka tree grows naturally.
The high demand for Manuka honey makes it possible for some products to be counterfeit, so you should be careful when choosing to buy this honey.
Make a patch by applying a small amount of Manuka honey to the dressing material, such as a sterile patch. Cover the wound and cover with medical tape to prevent leakage. ^{[16] X Trusted Source DermNet NZ Go to Source}
Wash the wound and change the patch several times a day. Always check for signs of infection.

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Use aloe. Scientific research is still limited, but manufacturers repeatedly claim aloe vera’s benefits for wounds, and traditional Chinese medicine and other cultures continue. continue to use aloe vera for topical application and oral administration. ^{[17] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source}

The most recent article on a published literature does not provide sufficient evidence for the wound effects of aloe. However, the authors suggest that more trials be adjusted to properly study and report on the healing properties of aloe.
Aloe vera gel products made for topical use are often combined with vitamins A, B, C and E along with enzymes, amino acids, sugars and minerals.
Aloe vera is not recommended because of the lack of evidence for its effectiveness and toxicity in terms of ingesting aloe.

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Avoid using vitamin E. Although we have heard for years about the healing and scar-preventing effects of vitamin E on new wounds, recent research has demonstrated that vitamin E does not help prevent tissue damage. scars form. ^{[18] X Research Source}^{[19] X Research Source}

One study suggested that topical vitamin E actually inhibits the natural healing process.
Another study found that topical vitamin E can cause new allergic reactions, in up to 30% of people using vitamin E in this way.

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Avoid applying antibiotic creams or ointments. Unless there are signs of infection or your doctor recommends it, you don’t need to use over-the-counter antibiotic creams or ointments. ^{[20] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

More and more people are becoming resistant to antibiotics because of unnecessary, repeated or prolonged use.
This also includes over-the-counter antibiotic products.

Steps

Treating Wounds

Prevents Scar Formation

Improve Wound Healing Outcomes

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