How to heal a scar without a trace?

OUCH, I HURT MYSELF!

“To heal a wound, it should be thoroughly cleaned,” said Dr Philippe Deshayes, dermatologist. If the wound is superficial (scratch or abrasion) or shallow (it is merely scraped at the junction of the epidermis), disinfect it with a low alcohol antiseptic before applying antibacterial cream. Eventually you should pose a classic or hydrocolloid dressing, including blisters or in case of problems with blood circulation). And above all, beware of the sun! To avoid the appearance of a brown indelible scar caused by inflammation, don’t expose the injured area between 10 and 16 hours and protect the area with sunblock as soon as you leave the house.

I AM SERIOUSLY BANGED UP

When the deeper layer of the skin has been damaged (after surgery, for example), small vessels are recovering damaged cells and cleanse the wound. During this tissue repair phase, the dermis ‘buds’ to close the skin. Beware of crusts that hinder healing. To prevent this phenomenon, maintain a moist environment through remedial and antibacterial creams, rich in assets that soothe inflammation and stimulate collagen. Moisture allows cells to divide much faster than in air and the skin to regenerate faster. These creams can be used immediately after laying absorbable product under the skin. In case of conventional sutures points, avoid bathing (salt and sand ‘pull’ on the skin) and swimming pools (any bacteria). Don’t solicit the injury either, because even if the wound withdraws after fifteen days it takes a month for the dermis to recover.

I FEEL LIKE IT WON’T GO AWAY

The complete healing process can take from eighteen months to two years. To give flexibility to the skin, help collagen fibers to densify and elastin fibers to regenerate by practicing a self massage daily for three minutes, with or without cream. Start at one end of the scar and gently pinch the skin. One can also rest their fingers on the unsightly marks and massage in circular motions, right, left, up and down. Consistency is essential to achieve good results. And, again, protect the area from the sun. “The thin white scars that are achromic – where the skin is not pigmented – will emerge even more strongly if the skin darkens around it,” says Dr Dominique Egasse, oncology surgeon-dermatologist at the Hospital of poplars (Paris).

I HAVE A VERY OLD SCAR

It does not heal all the same way, according to our way of life or our health: the tobacco interferes microcirculation and collagen production, while diabetes increases the risk of infection, etc. After two years, if the scar remains red, you can act by masking it with laser sessions for about 6 months. Vascular laser (about 2 to 3 sessions, six weeks apart) reduces redness on hypertrophic scars. Several sessions of fractional carbon dioxide laser works well on acne remnants (not reimbursed by the social security). If these are very severe, the laser is favoured and pulsed with CO2 (support possible with prior agreement) but it is not ‘presentable’ for about six weeks and no make-up is advised for three weeks. Finally, it is always possible to hide an ugly scar through specific makeup.

Isabelle Soing and Nur Syazana H.