A cut on your skin often leaves a cosmetic remnant--a scar. Some scars occur when skin damage is so great that the body cannot repair itself by normal means. Instead, excessive amounts of collagen and elastin tissues form, which may appear as a hardened, raised scar. Treatments are available to soften a scar and realign collagen fibers as a means of reducing a scar's appearance.
Scar Treatment Creams
Over-the-counter scar treatment creams, such as Mederma, use softening, antibacterial ingredients to reduce or erase a scar's appearance. You apply Mederma's active ingredient, a derivation of onion extract, several times daily to make scar tissue softer and smaller in size and length. If you have a new cut, scar treatment creams can be especially useful, according to Skincare.lovetoknow.com. This treatment may take six to eight months to achieve noticeable results.
Silicone Gel Sheeting
Silicone gel sheeting can be purchased at a pharmacy or discount store. The exact reason why silicone gel sheeting is effective is unknown. However, Columbia Health Services suggests that applying the sheets--which resemble a bandage--helps to rearrange collagen fibers, reducing the scar tissue's appearance. The sheeting also traps moisture and static electricity next to the scar, softening and reducing its hardened appearance.
Injections
If your scar is older, raised above the skin's surface or is very hardened, collagen or steroid injections might be a good option, according to Columbia Health Services. Both collagen and steroids are injected directly into the scar site. They help to increase the amount of collagen fibers, which can reduce the scar's appearance and size by developing new, healthy skin.
Massage
Because scars from cuts tend to be smaller than surgical scarring, they can be massaged to stimulate circulation and healthy cell growth. Massaging the affected area two to three times a day for even a few minutes may be helpful in reducing the overall appearance of a scar, according to Parenting.com.
Member Comments
MclainTrain June 8
From experience, Dr. Blaine's complete scar care treatment is the BEST on flattening and fading scars- keloids, hypertrophic, acne and surgical scars. The treatment has a silicon gel-pad that you wear for 12 hours and then a liquid gel that you apply for the rest of the day. You can buy it at Longs Drug/CVS for around $20- and IT WORKS!
missskay June 17
Simple Vitamin E oil works wonders! I had dramatic results in just 1 night after I sliced my finger. Now I'm putting it on my face and hands at night to reduce wrinkles - we'll see if it works!