Our skin is like a fine cloth that covers our body’s valuable assets. Any injury or trauma, such as surgery, can cause scarring. Some scars are small in size or are in easy-to-conceal locations, but some are hard to hide. Thankfully, scar creams can help to reduce the appearance of after-surgery scars.
Scars never go away completely, but their size and appearance can be reduced and lightened over time. Let’s take a look at different types of scars, how they happen, and possible solutions.
We will discuss everything about scars and provide three effective ointments to help you to restore the beauty that your injury has taken from you.
What is a Scar?
A scar is a thick and raised area of skin that leaves a permanent mark even after the wound has healed. Scarring is a natural tissue-repairing process. Initially, the wound gets red, and then it progresses along with the regrowth of healthy skin. It will take time for the effects of massage and moisturizing to decrease a scar’s appearance.
Types of Surgical Scars
Different types of surgery cause various scars. The treatments to heal the blemishes are also distinct. Following is a list of kinds of scars.
Keloid Scars
Keloid scars are thick, irregular, and round clusters of tissue that grow over the wound or the edges of the wound. They are dark or red in comparison to overall skin color. Keloid scars are a collagen formation produced by the body after the healing of a wound.
These scars commonly appear on the chest, earlobes, back, and shoulder. They are more common for people with darker skin. A keloid scar can occur up to one year after skin trauma. There are different treatments to remove these scars, but they cannot be cured easily by simple remedies or home treatments.
Hypertrophic Scars
Hypertrophic scars are similar to keloid scars. The growth is limited to the skin boundary and is more responsive to treatment. Hypertrophic scars look red, thick, and raised. They start developing within weeks after the skin injury, but they improve naturally. They can take more than a year to cure.
Steroid therapy heals hypertrophic scars. In this process, a doctor injects a steroid directly into the scar. There are other surgical procedures to remove the marks. You need to take injections continuously for two years to increase the healing process and decrease the tendency of the scar returning. It may respond to a topical silicone dioxide application.
Contractures
These are abnormal scars that happen when there is damage to or loss of a large amount of skin. The formation of a contracture scar also depends on pulling the edges of the damaged skin. The reduced size of the skin can also affect joints and muscles, resulting in decreased mobility.
Adhesions
Adhesions can form between unconnected internal organs. During surgery, adhesions can cause severe complications.
How Does Scarring Happen?
When your body heals from a specific injury or a surgical procedure, scarring is a natural part of that process. The formation of the scar is caused by damage to the dermis, the thickest and deepest layer of the skin.
Your body reacts by forming collagen fibers to heal the damage. This leads to tissue formation that looks quite different than the rest of the skin. Different types of scars have varied appearances such as flat, pitted, raised, etc.
How Can a Scar be Reduced?
There are many dermatologist procedures to fade scars. The healing of a scar can be determined on various factors like:
- Location and type of scar
- Symptoms and severity
- Medical history
- Age of a person and overall health
- Tolerance for procedures, therapies, and medications
- Opinion or preference of the patient
How Do Scar Creams Work?
There are different types of scars that may vary in severity and type. Some mild scars fade with time and become invisible. Some deep or severe scars require medical treatments like laser therapy, radiation, injections, cryosurgery, etc., to reduce marks. Scar creams or gels can be an effective home treatment to minimize the appearance of mild to severe scars.
The main ingredient in scar creams is silicone. It helps in minimizing the appearance of the scar and also to prevent scar formation. Silicone helps by keeping the scar moist and protected, and it accelerates the growth of excessive collagen synthesis. Scar creams are effective enough to remodel scars and reduce their appearance.
How to Apply the Scar Cream Correctly?
After purchasing the right scar cream, you must know how and when to apply it. After surgery, it is advisable not to apply any scar removal cream. The surgeon will prescribe medications and gels to cure the swelling and bleeding of your wound. After some time of healing the wounds, you can think of applying scar creams.
Wound healing starts five to seven days after a surgical procedure, and it may take two to three weeks to heal. Ask your surgeon about the scar scream that suits your scar. You must be patient, consistent, and diligent for scar care. It takes time to decrease the appearance of the scar – two to three months or even more. Use the prescribed scar cream consistently to achieve results.
Best 3 After-Surgery Scar Creams
Here is a list of highly recommended scar creams. You can use them to reduce the appearance of scars after surgery.
Aroamas Silicone Professional Scar Sheets
Many doctors recommend silicone sheets to treat scars. The silicone-based sheets are clinically proven to make scars look better by lightening them. The product contains eight adhesive strips of silicone that can be applied to the skin without any discomfort. Your skin will remain flexible, soft, and breathable. It is easy to wash the sheet and reuse it for up to two weeks. There are no toxic ingredients in the odorless silicone scar sheets.
Procedure: Wash and dry the scar area to avoid infections. Cut the sheet according to the size of the scar if required. After that, peel off the adhesive liner and apply the sheet to the mark. Put on the sheet for at least 12 hours a day to get positive results. Remove the sheet before showering.
Aroamas Advanced Scar Removal Gel
Aroamas’ scar removal gel is another product clinically tested by dermatologists. The odorless and colorless gel prevents scar development and reduces scar appearance. Once you apply it to your skin, the gel dries quickly. You can use the gel on your face, neck, and all other parts of the body. It is suitable for every skin type, even sensitive skin.
Procedure: Before applying the gel, clean your scar with soap and pat it dry using a clean towel. Use your finger to apply and massage the gel gently into the skin. The gel will quickly dry. Apply two to three times every day.
Advanced Silicone Scar Gel
This is another clinically-tested silicone gel which is highly recommended to use on scars. The gel suits all types of skin and can be applied to any part of the body. It is a colorless, odorless, and easy-to-absorb gel.
Procedure: Wash and dry the scar area. Take some quantity of gel and massage it gently on your scar. Apply the gel two to three times a day.
The Bottom Line
Scar creams or gels are home remedies to fade the marks of after-surgery scars. There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments to lighten thick and raised marks. After surgery, doctors can prescribe scar creams for months to improve the scar appearance. No creams or gels can heal every mark, but it can be a positive step for mark fading.
You can buy any one of the effective silicone-based scar creams to reduce the scars. You will not experience any irritation, inflammation, itching, or other side effects. These products are clinically tested and approved by many dermatologists. These creams are safe and cost-effective options for all types of patients with different surgical scars and skin type.
