Avoid scratching or picking scabs. Healing wounds may itch, but you should avoid the temptation to scratch them. “Scratching the wound or picking at the scab causes more inflammation, making a scar more likely,” Fisher says.
Collagen builds up where the tissue is damaged, helping to heal and strengthen the wound. New collagen continues forming for several months and the blood supply increases, causing the scar to become raised and lumpy. In time, some collagen breaks down at the site of the wound and the blood supply reduces.
The scar will appear to become more lumpy and redder at first. This process will take between two and six weeks. Between approximately four and eight weeks the scar will look much wider and redder than it did initially. This is usually the worst the scar will look, and this is a natural part of the healing process.
Scars can be more sensitive to ultraviolet light for more than a year. An inability to respond to 'photodamage' may lead to worsening inflammation and altered pigmentation. The latter phenomenon may make a scar more conspicuous relative to its surroundings.
Excessive scars form as a result of aberrations of physiologic wound healing and may develop following any insult to the deep dermis, including burn injury, lacerations, abrasions, surgery, piercings and vaccinations.
Location, Location, Location. When it comes to scarring, where it occurs matters. If the wound happens in an area that has thin skin and doesn't move a lot, there will be minimal scarring. However, a wound in an area that moves is far more likely to scar.
Your skin loves cold to room temperature water. If you rush in from the external hot environment and wash your face using hot water, it may cause tiny black spots and worsen scarring.
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.
Sometimes scars take longer to mature and others may become thickened and get worse.
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.
Does vitamin E diminish scars? While vitamin E may help moisturize the skin, research indicates that vitamin E oils and supplements have no notable effect on scars. Vitamin E has a wide range of benefits, including keeping the eyes healthy and strengthening the immune system.
'Angry', inflamed or hypertrophic scars
'Angry' scars are those which become red, itchy, irritated, firm and hard. The commonest form of this scar is the hypertrophic scar seen after burn injury. However, even seemingly normal scars can have areas which become active, sometimes for no clear reason.
Silicone gel heals scars by increasing hydration of the stratum corneum (the uppermost layer of the skin). This facilitates regulation of fibroblast production and also reduces collagen production. Essentially, this allows skin to “breathe”, thus resulting in a softer and flatter scar.
The reason why dry skin causes scars to be more noticeable. Is because the skin is not laying flat. It is irritated, often red and itchy. And that can cause the skin to be rough and flaky as well.
One tip for taking care of scars is to use a topical ointment. Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible.
It can take up to 12-18 months after your injury or operation for a scar to heal. A normal scar will become darker initially and after a period of time this will start to fade. Dark scars can remain for years or indefinitely in people with darker skin.
Prolonged sun exposure and tanning may also permanently darken a scar, making it worse; especially in people with melanin-rich, darker skin complexions. But depending on your skin type and responses to incisions and skin wounds, your scar may end up either darker OR lighter than the surrounding skin.
To help your scar mature it is recommended that you massage and moisturise your scar.
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.
“Scar creams like Mederma (with the ingredient allantoin) have been shown to help minimize scars, so applying one of those regularly for the first few weeks can help,” says Dr. Cometti. Allantoin is a milky, anti-inflammatory exfoliating ingredient that you'd normally find in scar gels.
Type 3 skin has a higher scarring potential than Type 1 or 2. Type 4 skin is described as olive or caramel toned, typically with hazel or brown eyes and dark hair. Type 4 skin tans very easily and may still burn with long sun exposure. Type 4 skin scars easily.
Areas such as the chest and shoulders tend to scar worse than other areas. Scars in these tension areas are often thicker and more pronounced. You'll also find thicker scars occurring on elbows and knees due to their high tension qualities.