Every scar tells a story
Scars are a valuable representation of my client's stories. But sometimes, you just want your scars to go away. There are so many different types of scars.
One thing they can have in common is how they can make my clients feel self-conscious, especially when someone points them out. Your scars may be the story of how you’ve lived, but they don’t have to define you!
Let me share with you everything about scars and what you can do about them. Treat them right from the beginning, and preventing them is key!
When skin is damaged in any way, remarkable sequences of events take place to heal it. Wound healing requires the human body to undergo a multitude of events in a timely organised fashion. If the normal healing process does not occur, failure of healing occurs.
In my opinion, this is often due to the client’s impatience for scar resolution: they want the freshly created or still healing scar removed, which is not possible.
Prolonged healing of the skin increases the risk of scarring. Skin that has been burned may be slow to heal and chronically inflamed skin causes formation of abnormal scars.
Possible causes of long healing time:
Local infection, when the body's defence mechanism is overwhelmed by foreign invaders. The infection causes the wound to heal more slowly and if left unattended, to scar more significantly.
Inadequate wound closure.
Certain medications.
Smoking causes constriction of capillaries, decreasing the oxygen supply to the wound, which will slow down the healing process.
Malnutrition and chronic disease.
Advanced age. As we age, healing is slowed down.
Local shortage of blood supply. When blood circulation is poor the healing process is crippled.
Picking disrupts the healing process and causes cellular repair to begin again and again.
Here are some tips on how to help regenerating skin and minimise existing scarring:
Aromatherapy oils for scarring
Essential oils have rejuvenating benefits and can help regenerate skin cells and form new skin tissues. Some can reduce inflammation and redness on scars. Essential oils can lower the itching sensation on wounds and scars. Some oils also have the potential to heal wounds at the beginning level, healing wounds without letting them become scars.
Rosehip oil contains essential nutrients which make it an exceptionally active product for tissue regeneration, thus improving skin texture and reducing scars and skin discoloration. It is the single most effective oil used as anti-scarring agent for all types of scars and even aged, hardened scar tissue. It needs to be applied daily over time.
Sea buckthorn oil has a unique makeup of carotenoids, fatty acids, and complex lipids. The component of skin lipids stimulates the production of collagen, wound healing, and skin regeneration, properties that make the oil especially beneficial for the treatment of scars.
The vitamin E content in hazelnuts aids in scar healing. The increased collagen levels are a result of improved skin cell regeneration. This reduces the appearance of scars.
German chamomile essential oil helps remove scars and also relieve irritation and itching on scarred skin.
Lavender essential oil is great for burns and wound scars. The oil speeds up the wound healing process because its properties eases pain and prevents infection.
Frankincense is a great essential oil for scarring and wound healing.
Neroli oil has a rejuvenating effect on the skin because of its ability to stimulate growth of healthy new cells.
Nutrition that can help wound healing to prevent scarring
For damaged skin to regenerate quickly, we need a range of nutrients. Cell replication and growth of collagen are essential for damaged skin to repair itself. In all body processes, a full range of nutrients is needed, but key ones are here:
Vitamin C - an antioxidant needed for collagen production
Zinc - needed for cell replication for healing
Vitamin E - an antioxidant helps reduce inflammation and scarring
Vitamin A - an antioxidant for skin growth and healing
Vitamin B complex, especially B6 - needed for cell replication
Eating a wholesome diet is very important for rapid healing to take place.
Microneedling for scarring
Microneedling minimises the appearance of scars. Remember, scars are largely made up of collagen. Needling activates regulated collagen to flatten or plump the scarred area. Rather than applying oils and lotions and hoping for the best, microneedling acne scars and other types of scars trigger a biological reaction in the skin that can help revise their appearance.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
MLD improves wound healing and optimises the scarring process. Damaged lymph drainage routes can be restored in existing scars. If post-surgical scars interrupt the lymphatic pathways and local edemas/swelling form, they can be drained away, while MLD scar treatment reconnects the interrupted drainage routes. MLD is also effective on large scars caused by burns. It stops itching, the deep reddening of the scar area pales, and the scar tissue softens. A particularly good area of indication for MLD is cosmetic surgery aftercare.
Topical Creams I recommend
You can also apply topical creams to reduce the appearance of your scars faster. SSSCAR (Scar, Surgical,Striae, Contracture, Acne, Restore) is a revolutionary cream containing silicone gel, which is clinically proven to aid in wound recovery and help with the appearance of scars. SSSCAR also contains zinc which can help speed up wound healing and reduce redness and inflammation.
Scar repair forte accelerates the healing process, ensuring more rapid scar maturation, with balanced collagen synthesis, preventing ugly scar formation. It further acts on older hypertrophic and keloid scars (ugly, raised scars), promoting their maturation, helping flatten and reduce redness, itchiness, and pain while improving function.
Normal scarring exists in the uncomplicated healing of a wound. I believe if a wound is treated effectively, most scars will fade!
