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Find a Scar
Removal Specialist
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Patient Education
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 | | The Patient’s Guide is the most respected online publication providing information about scar removal. Our mission is to provide you, our reader, with unbiased, scientifically accurate information about scars, as well as potential treatments. | | >>More About the Patient's Guide | |
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| How Do I Prevent a Scar? The best way to prevent a scar is, of course, to protect your skin from injury. Obviously, that’s not always possible. So the next best step is to take care of the injury—the skin wound—as soon as it occurs. By treating the wound properly, you can sometimes minimize the visibility of the scar that forms over it. | | What to Do to Minimize Scars No matter what your grandmother may have told you, a wound should not be kept exposed to the air so it can “breathe.” In fact, that can actually delay healing. Instead, be sure that the wound is kept clean and covered with a sterile bandage or dressing. Studies have shown that keeping a skin wound moist rather than dry during the healing process usually helps to minimize scarring. Apply an antibiotic ointment to the wound each time you change the dressing. Of course, if the cut is large or deep, seek medical care. The wound may require stitching. If you do need stitches, talk with your doctor about when you should return to have them removed—and then be sure to keep that doctor’s appointment. Stitches that stay in too long may cause the little “bumps” on either side of the incision to become permanent. Gently massaging the site of the wound—after it has completely healed—for 60 seconds several times a day can sometimes help minimize scarring. The massage breaks down the bands of collagen that form in reaction to the wound. Your doctor will advise you on how to do this. What Not to Do Don’t use vitamin E ointment on wounds. Contrary to common belief, vitamin E has been found to impede wound healing. Also, don’t apply hydrogen peroxide to skin wounds (another favorite but ill-advised folk treatment); it can destroy newly forming skin cells. Also, don’t pick at the scab that forms over the wound. Doing so may make the scar that forms more noticeable. Finally, avoid exposing a newly forming scar to direct sunlight. Ultraviolet light triggers the production of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells), a process that can cause a scar to become dark and discolored. Always protect your skin from the sun with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Preventing Acne Scars As with other types of scarring, it’s not always possible to prevent acne scars. But you can take steps to lower of the odds of your acne leaving scars. First, seek treatment from a physician for your acne. Such treatment can help keep you from developing a more severe form of this skin condition. The severer the acne, the more likely scars will form. Second, avoid popping or squeezing your acne pimples and lesions. This can lead to scarring. Ask your dermatologist how best to care for your skin, including during a breakout. Preventing Stretch Marks Stretch marks can’t always be prevented, but a timely use of retinoid creams and alpha-hydroxy acid products in combination with topical steroids can sometimes help minimize the marks’ appearance while they’re forming. The steroids reduce the inflammation and the retinoids and alpha-hydroxy acids then counter any negative effects on the skin of the steroids. (Steroids, of course, are a potential cause of stretch marks.) A dermatologist experienced in treating stretch marks can help you find the treatment combination that is right for you. Seek care as soon as you notice the marks’ appearance on your skin. |
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