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.

DON’T wipe fresh wounds with hydrogen peroxide. The bubbles make it 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 very 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