At Home Skincare: All About Scars

By Mary Brooks APRN, Couture Med Spa Winter Park

How to Avoid Scarring After an Injury or Procedure

Scars are tattoos with better stories.

If you're anything like me – clumsy, fearless, spontaneous, or an adrenaline junkie – this post is for you! Most people aren't going to make it through life without experiencing a few scars, some more than others, but we all have them. That doesn't mean you have to live with them! You can treat your scars to diminish the appearance of them. There are many different types of scar treatments out there, but I'm going to go over some of my faves.

At Home Scar Treatments

Immediately after an injury occurs, there are some things you can do to help to decrease the appearance of scars, including:

• Avoiding unnecessary tension and strain on a scar
• Protecting it from excessive sunlight
• Massaging the area for a few minutes twice a day

You can also use special dressings known as silicon dressings, which are good at trapping moisture as well as using scar creams containing silicone. Biocorneum is my absolute favorite and must-have for everyone and anyone who is injury prone!

Biocorneum is an advanced scar treatment that incorporates medical-grade silicone and SPF 30 that prevents and minimizes the formation of hypertrophic scars. It also decreases the appearance of old scars and protects scars from darkening effects due to sun exposure.

Biocorneum dries quickly and adheres to skin for 12 to 24 hours. It can be used on scars resulting from surgical and cosmetic procedures, trauma, wounds, and burns. It can be effective on old scars too! You will get the most benefit in the first 12 weeks of use, although in some cases it may be recommended to use it for six to 12 months.

I was prescribed Biocorneum by a dermatologist several years ago after experiencing a facial laceration. I can't tell you how much of a believer I am in this product! After using Biocorneum for a few weeks I could tell a huge difference in the color and feel of my scars. The redness was gone, and my scars were much less noticeable (which I am so thankful for because the nickname ScarFace doesn't really suit me.)

CMS Scar Treatments

Depending on the type of scar, depth, age, and the healing capacity of the individual, there are certain treatments that might work better for different people. At CMS, this is why we have multiple treatment options for scar therapy that best suits each client, including:

Fractional laser:  A non-wounding laser is used to stimulate collagen growth and tighten skin.

Chemical Peels:  Improve the appearance of mild scarring by using a chemical solution to remove the outer layer of old skin. The new skin that replaces it is usually smoother and less irregular in appearance.

Dermal fillers:  Chemical fillers are injected into the skin to decrease the depth of scars.

Personal Experience Pearl

Unfortunately, I am no stranger to the ER, especially for accidental injuries, including facial lacerations! I'm not going to bore you with the details, but if you ever find yourself in the ER needing sutures or treatment for a facial injury,  make sure you see a plastic surgeon! Just like you wouldn't want a podiatrist (foot doctor) performing heart surgery, you don't want an ER doc stitching up your face. You may end up waiting longer because plastic surgeons may not be readily available at the time you need them, but they are worth the wait.

I mean, it's your face, and you can't trust just anyone!

If you are unhappy about a scar's redness, bumpiness, or thickness we would be happy to consult you to discuss possible options such as an appropriate laser source, a facial peel, or injectable treatment.

Never be ashamed of your scars, they simply mean you are stronger than whatever tried to hurt you.