How to Fade a Small Scar on the Leg

Heredity can affect how a scar on your leg heals.

Scars are the result of the body's response to cuts and wounds. In the natural healing process, skin and the underlying dermal layer are repaired when new collagen fibers form. The appearance of a leg scar can vary based on the type of wound, how it affected the dermal layer and any familial predisposition you may have to keloid or hypertrophic scarring. A variety of alternative and traditional methods should make a leg scar less noticeable. If you have an older scar, there are methods available that can lighten it.

Things You'll Need

• Aloe vera
• Kojic acid
• Pink licorice
• Sunscreen
• Vitamin E
• Mederma
• Silicon strips

Instructions

1. Protect the wound until scar tissue forms. According to Nurse's Notebook, a public resource website, a wound, even a small one, should be protected with a daily dose of antibiotic ointment and a clean bandage until it heals completely. While prior wisdom dictated that a wound should remain open to the air so a scab could form, Nurse's Notebook advises that wound protection minimizes the appearance of scars, in the long run.

2. Have the scar examined by a dermatologist. Despite the most hygienic measures, some scars will keloid or become hypertrophic. According to the American Academy of Facial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, while scars respond to different techniques, hypertrophic or keloid scars -- thick, protrusive mounds of scar tissue caused by an overproduction of collagen -- can grow spontaneously and may be more resistant to treatment. Laser surgery and coricosteroid injections can be effective in minimizing the size and appearance of keloid and hypertrophic scars.

3. Use topical ointments or creams with onion extract. In a study at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, researchers found subjects with keloid or hypertrophic-type scars reported, gels or creams with onion extract provided more relief and better results with minimizing scar appearance over other topical treatments. Over-the-counter products such as Mederma are made with onion extract.

4. Massage the scar daily and use compression bandages, especially if the scar is unsightly and visible on your leg. Pressure bandages and massages work by breaking down the collagen fibers that make-up the scar tissue. Additionally, silicon bandages can be helpful in reducing scar thickness.

5. Use products with skin lightening properties. Glycolic acid, kojic acid and azelaic acid all have lightening properties. These chemicals, found in many skincare products lighten older scars by inhibiting melanin production in the skin's top-most layers. However, use of these products can cause photo-sensitivity. If you're going to use one of them, the site WebMD recommends you choose one with a corticosteroid component. Discontinue use if skin irritation worsens.

References

• Facial Plastic Surgery: Types of Scars and How to Minimize Their Visibility
• American Academy of Dermatology: What Is a Scar?
• Mederma: Healing After Surgery
• WebMD: Scars and Your Skin
• WebMD: Skin Care Products
• Nurses Notebook: Caring for Cuts and Scrapes: Three Easy Steps

Resources

• Pharmacy Times: OTC Products 2007 Survey of Pharmacist Recommendations
• National Institutes of Health: Keloid Disease
• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery: Dermabrasion Information
• National Institutes of Health: A Comparative Study Evaluating the Tolerability and Efficacy of Two Topical Therapies
• Cosmetics Database: Hydroquinone
• Emedicine: Skin Lightening and Depigmenting Agents