MINIMIZE SKIN SCARRING Whether caused by injury, surgery, or burn, scars can be disfiguring. Scars stand out against
rest of skin because scar tissue is different than ordinary skin. As a result, scars usually take a different color. The severity of a scar depends on many factors including size and depth of wound, thickness and color of skin. Some people, especially those with deeper skin tones, have a tendency to produce prominent raised scars.If you’re like most people, you have few battle scars. Lifelong reminders of time you wiped out on your bike at age 6, knee surgery you had in college, a bad sunburn, or a recent run-in with a paring knife. Fortunately, many scars will fade in time; for those that don’t, products like Rejuvenating Cream, distributed by IH Distribution LLC (www.ihdistribution.com) will help reduce or eliminate scarring.
Some tips for scar management and minimizing scarring:
DON’T wipe fresh wounds with hydrogen peroxide. The bubbles make is feel like something good is happening, but hydrogen peroxide actually destroys new skin cells that immediately begin to grow.
DO cover a cut. The old wives tale about allowing a “fresh” cut to breathe will actually not support rapid healing. A covered cut actually heals by as much as 50% faster. The moisture that builds up in a covered cut prevents formation of a hard scab, which acts as a barrier to growth of new skin. The covering should be changed daily and an antibiotic ointment, which also prevents infection, actually speeds up skin’s repair. After a week, replacing antibiotic cream with petroleum jelly keeps skin soft, allowing it to grow optimally.
DON’T fall for tale about treating with Vitamin E. A major study at University of Miami has shown putting liquid Vitamin E on a wound actually impairs healing.
DO apply constant pressure on a fresh wound with a sterile bandage or silicone sheeting pad. Constant pressure actually helps to flatten skin on both sides of a wound to reduce scarring.
