To help your scar mature it is recommended that you massage and moisturise your scar.
Vitamin E cream is sometimes recommended for managing scars, but there's no medical evidence to suggest it has an effect. But massaging a moisturiser like E45 into the scar will stop it becoming dry and help make it supple. You should also apply sunscreen to your scar as it may be particularly sensitive to the sun.
Keeping the skin moisturised once the initial wound has healed, after approximately 3 weeks, is the best method of preventing or reducing scars. Bath emollients and moisturisers can also help to restore the skin's smoothness and elasticity.
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.
While one cannot exclude the effects of some of the ingredients used in the products, several studies are reported in this review that demonstrates that moisturization is a key component to reducing the clinical signs and symptoms of scars and striae.
Moisturisers should be applied gently in thin layers while the scars are more fragile and should be done 2-3 times a day. It is important to fully cleanse the area each day to avoid build- up of cream and skin irritation. Once your wound has healed we will advise you to commence gentle massage called gliding.
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.
Best for old and new scars: Mederma Advanced Scar Gel. Best for surgical scars: Scaraway Silicone Scar Sheets. Best for cruelty-free scar treatment: Derma E Scar Gel. Best for long-term skin health: Honeydew Concealing Cream.
Do Keep It Moist. Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment, such as Aquaphor or Vaseline, to your incision site, and keep it covered with appropriate bandaging to prevent dirt, bacteria, and other irritants from entering the wound.
Lotions and oils are good to keep the skin soft and pliable to create a better milieu for healing. Ointments or vaseline are not good moisturizers. Again scars will generally heal well in spite of what your put on them, just be patient.
Though always wise to run any changes in your recovery by your surgeon, you should be fine to start ointment or lotion application to your incisions.
Wait until your wound has fully healed and allow 4 weeks after any stitches have been removed before you start to apply Bio-Oil. To apply, massage in a small amount until it has been fully absorbed. You need to be dedicated and ensure you regularly massage and moisturise your scar twice a day for at least 3 months.
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.
Most surgical incisions will take approximately 2 weeks to heal and be considered closed. However, the overall length of time for the scar to heal is 9-12 months. This is the time it takes for any scar to mature into a pale and flat scar.
Gently wash it with soap and water to remove the crust. Do not scrub or soak the wound. Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine, which can harm the tissue and slow wound healing. Air-dry the incision or pat it dry with a clean, fresh towel before reapplying the dressing.
To encourage healing, you should massage your scar two to three times a day for about ten minutes each time. The Moffitt Cancer Center suggests beginning with gentle pressure and increasing it as you progress.
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.
If the patient is finding massage helpful, continuing to massage for longer than six months is not harmful for the scars and can be encouraged. Remember to let patients know that they should stop massaging if the skin feels warmer than the skin around it, they experience bleeding or more pain than usual.
Massaging a scar when it's not fully healed can interrupt the healing process. It can also reopen the scar exposing it to bacteria and infection.
No matter what you do, your wound may heal with or without a scab, a protective covering that the skin forms over the wound. However, if you keep the wound covered and moist, you're less likely to end up with a scab. And if you do end up with a scab, it will heal more quickly.
[8,9] Silicon gel exerts several actions which may explain this benefit in scars: It increases hydration of stratum corneum and thereby facilitates regulation of fibroblast production and reduction in collagen production. It results into softer and flatter scar.
Conclusions: Scar redness fades on average at 7 months. This is influenced by the wound type and position. The authors advocate the use of the term "rubor perseverans" to describe the physiologic redness of a normal scar as it matures beyond the first month, a process that does not involve inflammation.