Preventing Scars - What products help?

In preventing scars that are abnormal, it helps to understand why scarring occurs. Any injury to the skin sends signals to your body to repair the wound. To heal the wound, the blood clots and specialized cells called fibroblasts are sent to the site to produce collagen, and bind the skin back together. Sometimes the healing skin forms excessive, unorganized collagen bundles that push upwards and form a reddened, raised, hard scar. There are things one can do for preventing scars that are abnormal; this article presents some tips.

What types of scars are considered abnormal?

Hypertrophic scars: Hypertrophic scars are usually red, thick and elevated and can be itchy or painful. Their growth is confined to the boundaries of the original wound, and hypertrophic scars usually develop in the weeks following trauma or burn injury. These scars may improve naturally; the process can take up to a year or more.

Keloid scars: Keloid scars are thick, rounded irregular clusters of scar tissue that extend beyond the original wound. Keloids may occur at any age, but tend to develop more readily in younger individuals and in darker-skinned people. They often appear red or darker in color when compared with the surrounding skin. Keloids may not develop for many months after injury, and can worsen during pregnancy.

Tips for preventing scars that are abnormal:

• Keep it clean –Post-surgery, carefully follow your physician's instructions for post-surgical/post-suture wound care. Once the wound has closed, regularly wash gently with a mild anti-bacterial soap. Do not remove any adhesive strips until they fall off or unless instructed by your physician.

• Don’t scratch or pick at scabs, this disrupts the natural healing process that occurs after an injury

• Stop smoking: Smoking constricts blood vessels which in turn limits the amount of oxygen reaching a wound. If a wound does not receive enough oxygen it is more likely to heal poorly and result in a worse scar

• Eat a healthy diet. A poor diet does not provide the building blocks needed to heal the wound and prevent infection. A diet rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins and adequate calories plays a key role in wound healing and subsequent scar formation. Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the mineral zinc are particularly important.

• Avoid sun exposure. Sun (UV) exposure has been shown to negatively influence the wound healing process and may result in long-term darkened pigmentation. Apply sun protection to all new scars to prevent unwanted darkening.

Silicone gel is a clinically effective and non-invasive therapy that may be used after the wound has closed or surgical sutures have been removed to help in preventing abnormal scars or to reduce the risk of a problem scar from evolving. Silicone is internationally recommended as first-line therapy for the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids.1

Kelo-cote® benefits.

• 100% silicone in a unique, patented formulation

• Transparent and odorless

• Quick self-drying formula with Siliclear Complex™

• Dries to an invisible, breathable sheet within minutes

• Acts like a second layer of skin providing 24 hour coverage

• Softens and flattens raised scars2,3

• Reduces redness and discoloration2,3

• Relieves itching and discomfort associated with scars2,3

• Easy and painless to apply, no removal necessary

• Ideal for any irregular skin/scar surface, joints, flexures, the face and scars of any size

• Suitable for use on children, patients with sensitive skin and pregnancy women