Dr Harman Sidhu is the top Skin Specialist in Chandigarh and in this article she provides valuable advise on scar prevention. We all have scars and they are typically not something that cause discomfort. However, in some cases of serious injury the size and location of the scar tissue can affect self-esteem. For many, scars have become a permanent problem because they think scars cannot be treated. Luckily, there are ways to ensure their appearance becomes less visible over time.
While scars are a natural part of the healing process after an injury, there are things you can do to minimise their appearance. Scar tissue always looks different compared to normal skin because replacement skin doesn’t contain everything normal skin does. Dr Harmandeep Sidhu at Athena Skin Hair & Laser Clinic offers various advice on minimizing scarring that have helped his patients for years.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that deep cuts and burns require immediate medical attention. Stiches and help prevent infection and minimise scarring, but they need to be done in time to ensure skin will heal quicker and the scar being smaller. It is advisable to avoid exposing the scarred area to direct sunlight in the following days as UV rays damage the skin. Since new skin is particularly vulnerable this may result in discolouration and making the scar more obvious.
Many people start picking at the scabs the moment they start forming, thinking this speeds up the healing process. This is a common misconception as it actually prevents the wound from healing properly and increases the chance of scarring. Most people also start scratching away at healing scars because they cannot resist the urge and often because healing scars have mild itch related to it. It’s best to let nature take its course and leave the cut open “to breathe” whenever possible.
Gentle massages have been proven to promote blood flow to the damaged area and speed up the process of healing. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of scarring. It’s important to keep in mind that this is a process and it takes time for the skin to repair itself. There are some creams and ointments that can help along the way, but in general anything that isn’t natural can end up doing more harm than good.
Avoid using hydrogen peroxide too often because it can irritate the skin and slow down healing. Scars never stop changing, so it is not uncommon to notice difference in size, colour and shape over time, but this is nothing to be alarmed about. Typically, their appearance improves over time with the exception of keloid scars, which need to be treated by a physician because they become worse.
Using scar creams may be tempting, but don’t expect phenomenal results. Dr Harmandeep Sidhu typically advises against most over-the-counter products as they do little to minimise scarring and can actually cause skin allergy or inflammation that worsens the affected area. Laser and other treatments are effective in tackling stubborn scars and Dr Harman Sidhu is a Top skin specialist in Chandigarh who should be first consulted. Skin is a very precious tissue and no experiments should be done with it. In some cases, side-effects can be non-reversible.
