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.

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.

Steps

Treating Wounds

Prevents Scar Formation

Improve Wound Healing Outcomes

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