4 Tips for Preventing Scars

Whether it’s from acne, injury, surgery, or pregnancy marks, scars can be really difficult to deal with. Some scars fade in a short period of time but some last a long time. Below are some tips to help prevent scarring.

Be Patient. Healing takes time — possibly a long time. The first phase of healing takes three months, followed by a second phase that lasts another three months. At one year after the injury, the scar has basically formed, but even then it will still change and appear different a year after that. “The truth is, scars never stop changing and improving unless they are keloid scars, which continually worsen unless treated by a physician,” Krant says. Source:EverydayHealth

DON’T Use Hydrogen Peroxide Who doesn’t love those little bubbles that froth up over a cut when it’s swabbed with hydrogen peroxide? The bad news is that while the solution cleans, it also destroys new skin cells that immediately begin to grow when you hurt yourself. This slows down the healing process and gives scars a greater chance of forming. Source:CBSNews

Keep it Covered Covering your cut or scrape helps it heal by barring bacteria, dirt, and other irritants. It also helps keep the wound moist for the first few days, which speeds healing. You can use an antibiotic cream or ointment to help keep your wound clean and moist. Keeping the wound covered and moist helps reduce the appearance of scars. Source:WebMD

Use SPF to Protect Sun exposure not only damages your skin, but it can also worsen the appearance of scars. The cells that produce pigment in the skin become overactive during the healing stage and produce more pigment than normal, which is why scars are dark in the first place. Sun exposure essentially tans the scar, making it even darker for a longer period of time. Use SPF 30 on your scar (and all over!) every day, says Rucker. Source:WomensHealthMag