Scarring is the result when you've suffered a wound and it doesn't heal quickly enough or becomes infected. While some scars cannot be avoided, scars from simple scabs, cuts and lacerations can usually be avoided. The way that you clean your wound and move your body could have a bearing on your susceptibility to an ugly scar. By taking care of your wound properly, you can minimize scars during healing so that your wound heals quickly and cleanly.
Step 1
Wash the initial wound and ensure that it stays clean during the healing process. Lather up with a good-quality antibacterial soap and pat the lather on the skin around the wound, avoiding the actual wound, suggests FamilyDoctor.org, a division of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Leave for 30 seconds, and then rinse away.
Step 2
Limit your movement of the wound. If you have a cut on your knuckle, immobilize your finger, as movement can reopen the wound and slow the healing process, increasing your chances for an ugly scar. If necessary, bandage the area so it's less possible to move the joint or body part where the wound is found.
Step 3
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap any time you handle the wound. Keep your hands away from the wound as much as possible. Touching the scar transfers bacteria from your hands, which could cause infection. Likewise, picking at the wound and any forming scars slows the healing process. A coating of antibacterial ointment and a bandage can help keep the wound out of sight and out of mind throughout the healing process.
Step 4
Prick a vitamin E capsule and squeeze the liquid over the healing, closed wound. Rub gently into the wound to help nourish the skin and reduce scarring. Dermatologist Stephen Kurtin tells MotherNature.com that vitamin E helps the closed wound heal faster, therefore reducing the chances for scarring.
Things You'll Need
- Bandage
- Antibacterial ointment
- Antibacterial soap
- Vitamin E capsules
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