By Victoria Reiz:
Definition: a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
The probability of acquiring some sort of scarring in your lifetime tends to be quite considerable. It may be during those dreadful years of puberty, from getting your appendix removed or even from falling off your bike, which ever way you may end up with this type of permanent imperfection, it is not always so well received.
Although it is difficult to achieve complete removal of these marks, there are ways to reduce its appearance and avoid the severity of most scars. The use of products, such as scar healing creams, silicone, vitamin-based, and homeopathic scar gels and ointments, silicone sheets, and hydrogel (water-based) sheets have been proven to do wonders for the appearance and restoration of the injured tissue area.
Scar reduction products can help reduce the scar size, thickness, height, and colour of all types of scars, including new and old scars, post-surgery scars, keloids (‘ An overgrowth of scar tissue at the site of a healed skin injury’*) , and other scar types caused by injury, trauma, and/or burns. These products can also make the scar less noticeable by flattening, softening, smoothing, and blending the scar with surrounding healthy skin, whilst reducing redness, discomfort of itching that can occur, and help to maintain the skin’s moisture balance and elasticity of adjacent skin.
If this is a problem area that you can associate with, then try following these simple steps** shortly after the injury to your skin, to start your battle sooner and improve the likelihood of scar reduction:
Step 1: Consult physician of the likelihood of your (potential) scarring
Step 2: Let the skin breathe. When damage to the skin is new, do not aggrevate it by putting bandages or ointments on the area.
Step 3: use antibacterial soap to make sure the skin stays clean after the injury.
Step 4: Avoid any direct sunlight shine on the damaged area
Step 5: Apply a small amount of aloe vera to the area daily as the wound is healing.
Step 6: Once the damaged area has healed and you are left with a scar, put Vitamin E oil from capsules on the area every night.
Step 7: Apply a light moisteriser with sunscreen to the area every morning.
Step 8: Talk to your dermatologist about using AHAs (alpha-hydroxl acids) and/or Retin-A or Renova.
Step 9: Exfoliate area very gently. This should be done only after skin is completely healed.
Step 10: For a thick, raised scar, try using silicone sheets. The silicone encourages hydration and softening of the scar. Wear sheet for a prolonged period of time to reduce raised nature of the scar.
Step 11: Talk to dermatologist about acid peels or laser resurfacing for severe acne scars.
Tips: Prevent acne scars by keeping hands and nails away from blemishes .
Vitamin E :
Functions of Vitamin E ***
- Has an important role in cellular respiration of muscles, especially the cardiac muscle.
- Prevents peroxide formation by being an anti-oxidant.
- Protects all the other fat-soluble vitamins against oxidation.
- Reduces scar tissue formation both internally and externally, this is why a lot of creams and ointments contain vitamin E.
- Increase formation of new blood vessels around damaged areas.
- Protects and ensures permeability of the capillary system.
AHAs (alpha-hydroxl acids): Hydroxy acids loosen and dissolve small amounts of blemish tissue.****
Exfoliate your Body:
By removing the top layer of dead epidermis cells, you will make your skin appear smoother and less wrinkled. Ultimately a more radiant and healthy look!
Step 1: Brush dry skin before getting into the shower. Use either a loofah, exfoliating gloves or a body exfoliating brush. Start at the soles of the feet and work your way up.
Step 2: Get into the bath or shower and wet entire body
Step 3: Apply exfoliating cleanser to your loofah or exfoliating brush or gloves.
Step 4: Scrub body with it, using gentle, circular motions
Step 5: Opt for grainy types of cleansers to clean the skin, rather than soap. Choose exfoliating cleansers that contain ingredients such as oatmeal, ground almonds or even sea salt. Grainy texture exfoliates the skin.
Step 6: Make own exfoliating cleanser by mixing sea salt, olive oil + lemon juice together, or mix ground almonds and powdered milk.
Step 7: Use a washcloth for mild exfoliation
Step 8: Rub rough spots, such as heels, with a pumice stone or stick
Step 9 : Apply lotion containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids after you exfoliate. This will continue the exfoliating process because acids further abrade + remove dead skin cells.
Step 10: Be sure to use body moisturizers at least once every day. Regular exfoliating is extremely drying to the skin and will do more harm than good unless the skin is rehydrated liberally with lotions.**
Research courtesy of:
*http : //www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000849.htm
**”How to…” – www.ehow.com
*** http://www.netfit.co.uk/vit1.htm
**** http://www.reverseskinaging.com/quickshop/scarreduction.html |
