A common question many patients ask after surgery is if their scar will heal on its own or if medical intervention is required. The short answer: it depends. More than likely, a scar will never completely go away, especially if it was caused by an invasive procedure or major injury. On the other hand, if you are healing from a minor wound, you may get lucky and be left with a barely visible mark. A number of factors, including genetics and how well you treat your wound, can determine how your scar will turn out. Luckily, there are a number of things we can do to help our scars fade over time.
Once the wound has fully healed, the scarring process, also known as maturation, will begin. This stage is marked by the restructuring of collagen fibers in the skin to regain its former shape and restore strength. Maturation can continue for up to a year after the initial onset of the wound. Therefore, the appearance of the scar will change over time. However, not every scar will turn out the same. For some, a scar will be nothing more than a small white line. For others, scarring can be burdensome with the formation of keloids and hypertrophic scars. These scar types are considered abnormal and usually do not fade over time without intervention. The medical community still isn’t sure why some people keloid, but it’s thought to be genetic because keloids run in the family.
Scars and wound healing
If left without medical attention, wounds will have a difficult time healing and a scar will likely result. This is why it is always important to observe wound healing best practices to ensure the best outcomes. This includes cleaning your wound with soap and water, covering it with a bandage or gauze, and using an antibiotic ointment. Cleaning a wound will remove any dirt and germs that have entered the site, thereby reducing the risk of infection. You will know if your wound has become infected if these symptoms occur: redness, pain to the touch, heat, yellow or green pus, and swollenness. If infection occurs, the wound will take longer to heal and the risk for scarring increases.Once the wound has fully healed, the scarring process, also known as maturation, will begin. This stage is marked by the restructuring of collagen fibers in the skin to regain its former shape and restore strength. Maturation can continue for up to a year after the initial onset of the wound. Therefore, the appearance of the scar will change over time. However, not every scar will turn out the same. For some, a scar will be nothing more than a small white line. For others, scarring can be burdensome with the formation of keloids and hypertrophic scars. These scar types are considered abnormal and usually do not fade over time without intervention. The medical community still isn’t sure why some people keloid, but it’s thought to be genetic because keloids run in the family.
Silicone gel scar treatment
As was suggested before, the ability for scars to heal on their own depends on several factors. To some degree, we have control over how they heal if we take care of our wounds and use the right scar treatment products. Medical silicone gel is the best topical treatment on the market today because it is clinically proven and has been trusted by medical professionals for over 30 years. People of any age can use silicone to treat old and new scars. People who are predisposed to keloids and hypertrophic scars have much to benefit from using silicone gel sheeting or silicone gel sticks. After two to three months of using silicone scar therapy, a patient should see a dramatic decrease in the appearance of their scar.Biodermis is an innovative market leader with 30 years of expertise in the medical silicone industry. Visit Biodermis.com today to explore a complete range of scar management and post-operative care solutions.
PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS: REFER OR RESELL?
Biodermis offers custom tailored referral programs designed to simplify and reduce the cost of your patients' post-op care. Additionally, we offer professional pricing if you opt to retail our products. Give us a call at 800.322.3729, and we will be happy to provide additional details on these programs.
