Three Simple Ways to Prevent Scarring Disorders
By Space Coast Daily // March 16, 2020
Accidents happen, no matter how careful we are. Whether it be a toddler running around and bumping his head on the table, falling down the stairs, or accidentally cut the skin with a scissor.
Although a scar is inevitable after a skin injury, there are some ways that you can do to prevent lasting marks.
There are different types of scars formed. Minor scars can heal with time, while some might need special medical treatment. In this article, you will learn about different kinds of scars in children and the methods on how to prevent such scars.
• Keloid
A keloid grows where the wound is, and they are formed from the collagen that is coming from the wound itself. It appears to be thick, raised, dark and round.
It can grow much larger than the wound. It may take months to fully develop. It can be itchy but they are non-harmful to your health.
• Hypertrophic scar
This type of scar is like a keloid, the difference is the boundary to where they grow. It does not grow beyond the boundary of the skin’s wound.
It is also thick, raised and wide. This type of scar is the result of an abnormal trauma from a wound or injury. It is not life-threatening but may just bring about cosmetic issues.
• Atrophic Scar
Atrophic or also known as the sunken scar is a result of chickenpox or severe acne. It can also form when a mole is removed.
• Scar contracture
This is a scar resulting from burns. It pulls the skin together and it can hinder you to move. It can also go deeper affecting your muscles and nerves. This requires appropriate medical treatment.
All wounds leave a scar and most happen during childhood. It is a good thing that at a young age the skin is also young and any scar can still be prevented.
How? Proper care should be given during the healing stage. Scars mature as the child grows, and the final quality is determined by the wound size, inherited skin regeneration qualities and how well it was taken care of.
There are 3 ways to care for the wound and prevent any scar formation:
1. Sun Protection
Protect a pink scar from getting sunburned. Damaged skin is prone to skin discoloration until six months and it can become permanent.
This darkening of the skin is called hyperpigmentation. You should protect the wound with a cloth or a sunscreen. Sunblocks with SPF 15 or higher work best if applied often.
2. Silicone gels or creams
These types of products will help soften, flatten and improve the discoloration of the scar. Over-the-counter creams are available while some scar cream for kids may need a prescription to avoid further skin irritation.
Antihistamine creams are prescribed if the scar is itchy and sensitive while corticosteroid gels can be bought without a prescription and are effective in reducing the appearance of scar when used over a period of time.
3. Scar Massage
The skin is healed by your own body. It lays down new proteins to your skin. The ridge that you feel means that your wound is under the healing process.
You can do a massage after three weeks or when the pink area is already gone. This way, the healed area will flatten. To do the scar massage, apply moderate pressure and do circle massages around the scar.
Scars are part of a wound’s natural healing process, but you can use these simple ways to prevent scar disorders to build up. These steps can also speed up the recovery and fading process if done properly.
Remember, proper care for the wound is essential to avoid further skin irritations and will encourage the skin to heal itself.
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