I was looking for some advice regarding scar treatment. I have a scar at the base of my throat from having thyroid surgery. It's not real visible anymore, but some days it's still a little red and somewhat puffy (I have no idea why). Has anyone had great results from a certain scar treatment? Thanks.
Scar treatment
- Thread starter Ciddy
- Start date
Poochy
Cathlete
I scar really easily ..
and have a horrible scar on my leg and knee from a ATV wreck .. one was a 3rd degree burn the other was from a deep cut ...
I tried the over the counter scar treatments and it may have helped a bit - lightened it a bit .. but I think the burn was just too bad and too deep for anything to help a lot ..
I have read now they have new improved ointments to help .. but I am sorry I just can't remember the name of the new products .. I am sure your pharmacist or Dr. could reccommend one ..
one thing I do reccommend is to put sunblock or zinc oxide on it when you are in the sun .. the sun makes the scars darker ...
and have a horrible scar on my leg and knee from a ATV wreck .. one was a 3rd degree burn the other was from a deep cut ...
I tried the over the counter scar treatments and it may have helped a bit - lightened it a bit .. but I think the burn was just too bad and too deep for anything to help a lot ..
I have read now they have new improved ointments to help .. but I am sorry I just can't remember the name of the new products .. I am sure your pharmacist or Dr. could reccommend one ..
one thing I do reccommend is to put sunblock or zinc oxide on it when you are in the sun .. the sun makes the scars darker ...
NinjaMom
Cathlete
I had rotator cuff surgery last June and have a 1 1/2" scar on the front of my shoulder. My surgeon told me to use natural vitamin E which you can squeeze out of the capsules but this was soon after the surgery so if it has been awhile for you, I'm not sure how effective it would be. I applied it daily for over 6 months. Also, it was important to stay out of the sun and had to cover up that shoulder all summer. The scar has faded and is no longer red and never puffy. You may want to check with your doctor for other recommendations.
Good Luck!
JJ
Good Luck!
JJ
cab0899
Cathlete
I do a lot of scar management with patients that have had burns and plastic surgery in my work. (I'm an occupational therapist). We use silicone get sheeting, the brand name I prefer is Cica Care, you would most likely have to have your pharmacist order it in and it could be quite costly. The lastest research seems to indicate wearing it a minimum of twelve hours a day to be effective. The other thing we teach is scar massage, using a non perfumed lotion (Vit E capsules) that someone else suggested would work well and massage the scar for about 5 minutes 2-3x/day. When massaging make sure that the skin is moving, not that your fingers are just "gliding" over the scar/skin but actually moving it. Scar tissue takes 4-6 months to become mature tissue and after it's mature tissue it won't change anymore so there is a window of opportunity to make the scar as mobile, thin, and less sensitive as possible. BTW research has also shown that doing the regular scar massage will prevent the scar from being less itchy even years down the road. HTH Kim
I have a bad scare from open-heart surgery two years ago. The scar doesn't go all way up to my neck. Instead, they gave me a different incision that sort of goes in a T-shape across the top. So I can wear sports bras, for example, and you can't tell the scar is there.
I've seen my dermatologist about it. Genetics plays a big role in how your scare will heal. At some point there's not much you can do about it. I had some laser work done on it initially, and that seemed to help. It can help remove some of the color.
I've read that some people have had success with silicone strips even on older scars.
Over time my scar has been getting lighter. It's still quite thick though, but that's due to the texture of the skin on my chest and my genes.
I've seen my dermatologist about it. Genetics plays a big role in how your scare will heal. At some point there's not much you can do about it. I had some laser work done on it initially, and that seemed to help. It can help remove some of the color.
I've read that some people have had success with silicone strips even on older scars.
Over time my scar has been getting lighter. It's still quite thick though, but that's due to the texture of the skin on my chest and my genes.
tneah
Cathlete
I had a breast lift/implants and used "Scar Guard" silicone sheets, but they really only help with a fresh, newer scar, it prevents keloid type scarring, which I do quite easily. So I used that which worked wonders plus I put Strivectin-SD on every day, AM and PM. It is supposed to be for stretch marks, but it worked on my scars,they are barely visible-it has been three years since my surgery. I bought the Strivectin at Macy's, but I think you can also get it online at Sephora.com. Expensive, but it lasts forever and works.
If it really bothers you then go to a doctor and see what options you have. I also scar really easily and have a tendency for hypertrophic and keloid scarring. I've used Mederma, and vit E as topical treatments and Cica Care and Neosporin silicon sheets also. The silicon sheets worked the best. Cica care is really thick silicon sheeting that's clear and the Neosporin is thinner and has a fabric cover on top in a peachy cream tone (like the color of skin).
Newer scars are more easy to treat than older ones. A raised scar is basically an excess of collagen and elastin fibers that accumulate on top of an incision to close it. The silicon sheets flatten these fibers a bit so the scar appears flatter, but remember you will always see something and you'll have to accept it and love it as your own unique mark. I hope this helps.
Newer scars are more easy to treat than older ones. A raised scar is basically an excess of collagen and elastin fibers that accumulate on top of an incision to close it. The silicon sheets flatten these fibers a bit so the scar appears flatter, but remember you will always see something and you'll have to accept it and love it as your own unique mark. I hope this helps.
>I do a lot of scar management with patients that have had
>burns and plastic surgery in my work. (I'm an occupational
>therapist). We use silicone get sheeting, the brand name I
>prefer is Cica Care, you would most likely have to have your
>pharmacist order it in and it could be quite costly. The
>lastest research seems to indicate wearing it a minimum of
>twelve hours a day to be effective.
Are the results of using Cica Care permanent? How long does it typically take for permanent results? I read the info on their website, but it's not clear to me if the results are permanent.
Cheers.
>burns and plastic surgery in my work. (I'm an occupational
>therapist). We use silicone get sheeting, the brand name I
>prefer is Cica Care, you would most likely have to have your
>pharmacist order it in and it could be quite costly. The
>lastest research seems to indicate wearing it a minimum of
>twelve hours a day to be effective.
Are the results of using Cica Care permanent? How long does it typically take for permanent results? I read the info on their website, but it's not clear to me if the results are permanent.
Cheers.
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm going to check into some of them. I know that the scar will always be there and even though there are days I'd like to have my nice scar free neck back, I know I'm a lot luckier than my thirysomething cousin who has breast cancer and it's a very small price to pay for a clean bill of health. It's just kind of hard sometimes because it's in a very visible place even though it looks 100% better than it did at one time. Thanks again.