When our bodies get injured, either by accident or from surgery, there may be a scar left. The body works to repair these wounds although as they heal we may be left with a scar as part of the healing process.
How well the wound heals will dictate the appearance of the scar. While anything due to surgery may be hard to avoid, there are some scars from minor wounds which can be made less visible by correctly treating them at home.
Keep the area clean. Gently wash with mild soap and water to keep debris out and discourage germs.
Make use of petroleum jelly
This will help the skin to heal while keeping the wound from drying out and scabbing. Scabbed wounds will take longer to heal. The jelly will also help the scar from becoming large, deep and itchy.
Cover with an adhesive bandage
After cleaning, apply petroleum jelly and then cover to keep any debris from entering the wound.
Change the adhesive daily
Change the adhesive each day while the wound is healing. If your skin is sensitive to adhesives you can try a non adhesive gauze pad with paper tape to keep it in place.
For wounds that need stitches
If you have a wound that requires stitches you should follow the doctor's advice on how to keep it clean and when to remove the stitches.
After the wound is healed
You can apply sunscreen after the wound has healed as this may reduce brown or red discolouration. It will also help the scar to fade quicker. You should use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and reapply often.
When to see a doctor
If your wound is deep, or very painful you should seek medical attention. Additionally, if the area becomes painful or seems to be infected, you should see a doctor.
While no scar can be completely removed, even over time most scars will eventually fade. If you are worried about prominent scars you may want to seek professional advice from a dermatologist who can show you ways to make the scar less visible.
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