The skin that grows as a wound heals is very different from the skin it replaces.

1. Scar tissue has no sweat glands.
2. There are no hair follicles in scarred skin.
3. Scars are less resistant to sunlight. UV rays change the color of scars.
4. The tissue is thicker and fibrous.
5. The pigment is different: either lighter than surrounding skin, or a different color.

Can You Impact Those Differences?

• There is nothing to be done about the first two differences in scar tissue. Scars are simply inferior quality skin.
• You can use an SPF 30 on a scar, if you go in the sun at all. A day of UV rays can erase months of scar fading treatment.
• The last two can be influenced by a scar treatment. Surgery removes thicker tissue, shots can reduce fibres below the skin. Silicone encourages size reduction, and promotes color fading over time.

A new term among medical professionals is, “scar management”. It’s just as it seems.  We can manage the growth and appearance of scars.

It’s best if scar management begins early.

Without scar cream treatment, a scar will look worse before it looks better, especially in the first two to four months. Left alone, it can look red, and appear raised for up to one year.

Scar therapy can begin as soon as the surface of the wound has closed. Doctors instruct patients to begin therapy at least twice a day for at least two months.  In that time, the initial fading may begin. Scar tissue formation will have been inhibited.

It can be a full year before a plastic surgeon will attempt scar revision. In the meantime, scar creams can help.