Search Results Tag: scar ointment

Scar Ointment: Gels, Creams and Good Advice

November 17, 2009 at 2:33 pm Filed in:Uncategorized No Comments

Here is medical advice about over-the-counter or prescription creams, scar ointments or gels.

  • These products can be used to treat scarssc that are caused from surgical incisions or other injuries or wounds.
  • If you are under the care of a plastic surgeon and your scarring is the result of cosmetic surgery, ask your surgeon for his or her recommendation
  • (Prescription) treatments can include corticosteroids or certain antihistamine creams for scars that cause itching and are extremely sensitive.
  • Reviewed by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Department of Plastic Surgery

Doctors acknowledge over-the-counter treatment is often sufficient.

  • Scar (ointment) may help reduce the appearance of some scars.
  • Results vary — and no scar can be completely erased.
  • If you’re concerned about the appearance of a scar, ask your doctor about other treatment options.
  • Possibilities may include…silicone-based products, laser treatment, or collagen or steroid injections.

Source:  mayoclinic.com

Silicone-based scar products are frequently used as parallel therapy with laser treatment, collagen or steroid injections, and dermabrasion.

Scar Help: The History of Silicone and an Understanding of How it Works as a Scar Reducer

November 17, 2009 at 2:24 pm Filed in:Uncategorized No Comments

In the early 1980s, a US doctor coated a polymer sheet with silicone gel. He was trying “pressure treatment” to reduce scarring. All he wanted was for the sheet to spread evenly over a scar. He thought a coating of silicone would do the trick.

He ended up discovering scars help. The silicone acted as an improved scar reducer. Scar size decreased more rapidly than with pressure treatments without silicone.

Silicone:  How and What

In spite of major studies, doctors don’t know how it works.

A preeminent theory involves static electricity. A silicone scar ointment attracts static electricity. The electrons may break up thick fibers, flattening scars.

With major studies, doctors know what it does.

One proven benefit involves silicone’s ability to help cells retain moisture. Moisture always facilitates healing, which reduces scar size and color.

Silicone in topical or dressing form protects a scar from irritation and infection. Infection halts healing, which increases scarring.

Scar help in practice

  • Silicone cream is now commonly used after plastic surgery. Doctors in the UK routinely employ silicone scar help alongside various surgical treatments.
  • It is frequently used in the US for continued scar help after laser scar removal.
  • Silicone in gel or cream form replaces self-adhesive silicone sheets that won’t stay on joints and flexible body parts.
  • Massage deepens delivery of silicone, and can break up tough scar fiber.

Facial Scar Treatment: You See it in the Mirror, They See it Whenever you Meet

November 17, 2009 at 2:18 pm Filed in:Uncategorized No Comments

Facial scars are difficult to cover up, making them prime candidates for scar treatment. Some marks on the face may be disguised with makeup. But many women think it looks even more prominent. Men shy away from using makeup. Many scars can be covered up with clothing, dark stockings, long pants, hats and even gloves. Not damage to skin on the face.

Candidates for Facial Scar Treatment

  1. Accident and trauma cause scarring. Even a common wound stitched in childhood can remain prominent for decades if not treated.
  2. Plastic surgeons attempt to hide scars at the hairline and behind ears. But any wound leaves a scar and rude people make a sport of noticing plastic surgery remnants.
  3. Earlobe and cheek scarring results from piercing. Both are risk areas for keloid and hypertrophic scarring, which is extremely disfiguring.
  4. Burns scars. From the accidental cigarette burn to a kitchen fire or traumatic accident, burns cause deep damage and heaped-up tissue.

Because facial scars are already noticeable, some prefer to avoid a medical therapy which would make things look worse, even if only temporarily. Over-the-counter scar products can be invisible while at work.

Best Scar Removal: Darker Skinned People Will Want to Know

November 17, 2009 at 2:13 pm Filed in:Uncategorized No Comments

A major study of scar treatment products on brown skin delivered the following results:

Silicone was kept on serious scarring for 12 hours a day.

  1. Doctors documented moderate improvement in 50% of cases.
  2. Improvement appeared within a span of 3 to 6 months.
  3. The study recommends this scar treatment can also be used as a preventive method immediate after a surgical wound has healed.
  4. Of all non-invasive treatments, the doctors report silicones seem to be generally the only ones that are able to manage scarring without significant side-effects.

Source: Dermatotherapy and Cosmetology Center, Pune, India

The study occurred in India

South Asian skin is brown to dark brown. Brown and African skin tones are most prone to serious scarring. Doctors hoped to find the best scar removal that was effective, inexpensive and non-surgical.

  • This particular study focused on keloid scars, which are disfiguring tissue growths, because ethnicity is a key factor in formation of keloids.

The study also found pressure combined with silicone impacted keloid size.