How to Get Rid of a Scar

Reduce or eliminate unsightly scars.

It is common to end up with a scar after an injury to the skin such as a cut, burn or surgical incision. The body produces collagen to close and heal the wound and this collagen is often more tough and differently colored than the surrounding skin. Many scars are relatively minor and will go away on their own over time, but some can be large and unsightly, causing feelings of self-consciousness. For individuals with large scars, the appearance of a scar can be significantly minimized with regular use of certain products or, in more severe cases, with medical treatments.

Things You'll Need

• sun block
• massage
• scar treatment
• patience

Instructions

1. Protect the scar from sunlight, because sun damage may exacerbate the discoloration of a scar. Apply sunscreen to the scarred area every day if it is in a spot that will be exposed to the Sun.

2. Apply a scar-minimizing product, such as cocoa butter, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) gel or vitamin E cream. Massage the product into the scar once or twice daily. Over time, you should notice the scar beginning to fade; the length of time this takes will vary depending on the age and severity of the scar.

3. Use silicone sheets or a silicone gel on the scarred area. Silicone has been known to flatten and lighten the color of scars with regular use. Silicone gel is applied by simply rubbing it onto the scar, while silicone sheets are placed on top of the scar and held in place with medical tape.

4. See your doctor for treatment if home remedies are unable to eliminate your scar. The doctor may give you injections of steroids or collagen to minimize the scar or recommend a treatment, such as dermabrasion or a chemical peel.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your skin in overall good health by drinking plenty of water, eating healthy foods and not smoking. Skin that is well-taken care of will heal much more quickly than unhealthy skin.

• Do not apply your scar treatment to an open wound unless it specifically says it's ok to do so in the in instructions for use.

• Avoid scar treatments that contain vitamin E - contrary to popular belief, clinical studies show vitamin E does nothing for scar healing and it actually causes contact dermatitis in up to 33% of users.

• Avoid topical steroids - they decrease inflammation but SLOW DOWN scar healing.

• Avoid treatments with preservatives or fragrances - these are the other main causes of contact dermatitis.

References

• Go Ask Alice!; Embarrassing Scars---How Can I Get Rid of Them?; July 2008
• EmaxHealth; Some Simple Things to Do to Minimize Scars; Ramona Bates; February 2009