Although scars may not be very attractive on the skin, they are a natural part of the healing process after you’ve been injured or undergone surgery. Scars help the skin to heal, but how do you go about healing the actual scar?
Here are some tips for natural scar care to help you achieve smooth skin that’s healthy and radiant.
What Causes Scars to Form?
When you injure the top layer of your skin, the wound needs time to heal and new skin begins to grow at the site. Scars are a type of tissue that are thicker than regular skin to help cover the injured area while it heals.
Many scars look red or pink in color, but they begin to fade away with time. Scars often have a flat appearance with wrinkles on the top. Depending on your skin tone, a scar may look lighter or darker than your natural skin.
Types of Scars
Not all scars are the same, and in fact, there are a few different types of scars that appear in different ways and can be treated differently. A contracture scar forms after the skin has been burned and causes the skin to become very tight. These scars can also affect nerves and muscles below the skin.
Keloid scars are common scars that occur when the skin aggressively tries to heal itself and go beyond just the initial injury site. Hypertrophic scars resemble keloids because they are also red and raised portions of skin, but they do not extend beyond the injury site. People who have acne also notice scarring on their skin after the pimples fade away and leave red marks or deep pits behind.
Treatment for Scars
Many scars require no treatment at all because they will fully heal on their own without intervention. However, some people will seek treatment for their scars because they cause pain, restrict bodily movement, or make them feel self-conscious.
A medical professional may recommend pressure therapy on a wound when it is healing to prevent or reduce scarring. There are also special ointments containing silicone that are used to treat scars. Flexible polyurethane dressings can reduce scarring if you’ve had surgery. It is also possible to get laser and other types of light treatment for scars that are very serious, under the direction of a dermatologist.
Natural Scar Care
Fortunately, there are many ways that you can take care of your scars at home to help them fade away on their own. It is important to keep scars well-moisturized with a therapeutic skin ointment so that the skin can regrow properly. Seagate Smooth Skin contains omega-3 fatty acids, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, natural vitamin E, and vanilla oil to help restore naturally healthy skin. Also, make sure to wash scarred areas of skin twice per day with gentle soap and water to keep the wound area clean as it heals.
For old scars that haven’t yet faded away on their own, some people swear by onion extract to soften scars and improve their appearance. Exfoliating old scar areas to remove outer layers of dead skin, as well as DIY skincare treatments with aloe vera, olive oil, and honey, are other ways to promote natural scar healing. And when you go outside, always make sure to cover scars in sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to prevent further discoloration of the affected area.