How to get rid of scars
We’ve all got scars, those unsightly marks that show from a past injury of some sort. The healing process is complex; when the skin injured the cells immediately activate – rebuilding the tissue to the dermis or the epidermis. Usually when rebuilding this tissue, the scarring is light but when the thick layer of tissue beneath the skin is damaged, rebuilding is more complicated. Most scars do not pose any problems, but for some people scars do pose problems.
We’ve all heard our mothers and grandmothers hollering at us to stop picking at the scabs that form while the wound is healing, or we’ll create a worse scar. Sometimes it’s an injury in an area (possibly the elbow or knee) and it “breaks” open easily when bending the arm or leg.
Wounds should always be kept clean so they do not get infected. An infected wound makes matters worse and can leave a bigger scar. Apply a first-aid antibiotic cream or ointment on them. You can also rub an over-the-counter antibiotic cream or ointment that is made specifically for reducing scars on the area. These creams (ointments and gels) are usually made of vitamins, botanical extracts, and other natural ingredients that will aid in the healing of scars, help to reduce the scar and make it less noticeable.
Our bodies lay down layers of collagen fibers (this is a protein that our bodies naturally produce) and as the wound heals, scars continue to change as new collagen is formed and the blood vessels return to normal. For this reason some scars will fade and improve with appearance over a two year period. There will always be some visible evidence of the injury and the hair follicles and sweat glands do not grow back making it seem that we never get rid of scars completely.
Wounds are not scars – they become scars after the skin is completely healed. If you have a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, or if you suffer a minor burn or sunburn, these are not scars even though the skin is broken and still being repaired but they can lead to minor scars if the outer layer of skin is scratched before it is healed.
None of us like having any scars and there are products on the market that specialize in either reducing or minimizing the appearance of scars. These products give the best results when the scars are new. Older scars take longer to fade – that is if they fade at all. If you have a scar or scars and they don’t completely vanish, there are ways to lessen or conceal the scar’s appearance.
Vitamin E capsules or vitamin E oil should be applied to scars on a daily basis. The vitamin E smoothes and straightens out the collagen (the structural protein found in scar tissue) and also keeps the skin moisturized.
You can use cocoa butter on new and older scars. The cocoa butter will help the scars to fade making them lighter over time. They may not disappear completely, but they won’t be as noticeable.
Pharmacies sell patches and creams that are applied to help reduce the appearance of older scars. Depending on the size of the scar and how noticeable it is will depend on how long a scar patch needs to be worn. Creams usually work in a few months or more. Some of the products have a money back guarantee if you are worried about investing money this way.
A doctor can remove scar tissue surgically, but if you suffer from keloid scars, there is a big chance that the keloid scar will come back and even bigger. In order to remove a keloid, the doctor needs to cut around it and if you have sensitive skin and keloids develop easily on you, there is a very good chance that the collagen fibers will leave you with a keloid that is much bigger than the one you started out with. Even the stitches used in the surgery can add to a larger scar. Keloids are excessive scar formation (fibrosis – the replacement of the normal structural elements of the tissue by distorted, nmon-functional and excessive accumulation of scar tissue).
If you have a scar in a very noticeable area, such as your face for instance, you can purchase a concealer to cover the scar. Concealers won’t get rid of the scar, but it will hide it.
Throughout the treatment you choose when trying to fade scars, remember that you should keep your skin clean and exfoliated. Healthier skin will heal much faster!
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January 17th, 2010 at 11:40 am
i have 1 very big scars on my knee both of them they look tebblie every one look at me when i wear shorts im a girl so how can i get rid of them ?????
pls can u help me
January 20th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Hello Colleen -
Scars are not easy to deal with – and some people (I am one of them) scar very easily. Also – my scars turn into keloids – big ugly red bumps that are extremely noticeable and some of them cannot be hidden 24/7! Surgery would only make keloids bigger – if your body collects scar tissue – it’s best to leave them alone and not try to have them cut out – they would only come back bigger and redder.
It’s hard on the knees with skirts, shorts, etc. You can try a scar remedy that is on the market – read the packages well, see what they say they will do, follow the directions and even check out the products reviews on line to see if they do work. In the mean time – you may have to opt for body makeup until the scar remedy can do its job.
I hope this is of help to you.