MINIMIZE SKIN SCARRING Whether caused by injury, surgery, or
burn, scars can be disfiguring. Scars stand out against the rest
of the 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 the size and depth
of the wound, the thickness and color of the 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 the time you wiped out on your bike at age 6, the
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 the 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 the
skin soft, allowing it to grow optimally.
DON’T fall for the tale about treating with Vitamin E. A major
study at the 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 the skin on both sides of a wound to reduce
scarring.
DON’T expose new scars to the sun. UV rays are detrimental to
the healing process and actually cause skin discoloration, which
highlights the scar. Always cover a scar or healing wound or use
a premium broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
IH Distribution LLC (www.ihdistribution.com) distributes a
premium product called “Take Cover for Face and Body”. It’s
water resistant, PBA free and protects from both UVA and UVB
rays. It is rated SPF 30+ and it formulated with antioxidant
vitamins A, C, & E. It is both Pediatrician and Dermatologist
tested, is guaranteed non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
DO gently massage the scar once the surface is healed. Gentle
massage helps breakdown the dense bands of skin that attach to
the underlying tissue, which is a common physiological reaction
to cesarean sections, appendectomies, and hand wounds. Once skin
has grown over the site, gently massaging with a lotion such as
Rejuvenating Cream by IH Distribution LLC
(www.ihdistribution.com) is effective. Dr. Robert Bernard, M.D.,
Plastic Surgeon in New York, states gently massaging with an
effective cream is one of the most effective techniques, early
on, to minimize scarring.
DON’T ignore a scar that becomes inflamed, reddened, raised, or
itchy. These signs may indicate an infection or allergic
reaction to the antibacterial cream used or even the bandage.
DO ask your physician to eliminate stitches before they leave
“track marks”. Usually after a week’s time, skin is healed
sufficient for stitch removal and this prevents the little bumps
that form on either side of the incision and can become
permanent reminders.
Cosmetics applied correctly can also be ver good at covering
scars. Stick with all-natural products that do not contain
animal product or by-products or petroleum based formulations.
© IH Distribution LLC, 2004 No material to be used without the
expressed permission of IH Distribution LLC