Proper skincare is essential to help your wounds heal and treat your scars. The American Academy of Dermatology states that scars form after a cut or other type of surface injury, and they are a natural step in your skin's healing process. Most will lessen in severity and color over time. However, there are at-home steps you can take to help fade scars more quickly. Take care of your skin and apply topical treatments daily, and you should begin to notice a reduction in your scars' appearance in two to three months.
Step 1
Wash your wound or cut with a gentle cleanser, massaging it lightly into your skin and rinsing it all off with warm water. Gently dry the area, and then smooth on a petroleum gel or antibacterial ointment. Do this twice a day until the wound has healed and the scab has disappeared.
In "Allure" magazine, Rhoda S. Narins, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Medical School, says that cleaning your wound and keeping it moisturized will help lessen your chances of scarring.
Step 2
Continue to keep your scar clean by using the gentle cleanser, but instead of the gel or ointment, apply a scar cream that contains onion extract or vitamin C twice a day. Onion extract helps counteract redness and vitamin C takes care of hyperpigmentation, which tends to plague people with darker skin tones.
Step 3
Exfoliate your skin twice a week with a gentle scrub. "Elle" magazine reports that dermatologist Dr. Jeanine Downie recommends this step to get rid of the topmost layers of skin and help speed up fading of dark marks or scars. Choose a product with spherical beads, and massage it gently into damp skin, concentrating specifically on your scars. Wash it all off and pat dry, then reapply the scar cream.
Step 4
Cover up your scars with clothing when you go outdoors. Sun damage can darken your scars and may even inhibit the efficacy of scar creams. If the scar is on your face or an area you are unable to hide with clothing, apply a sunscreen with SPF 30 to the affected area. Choose a product that is safe for sensitive skin if you are concerned about irritation.
Things You'll Need
- Gentle cleanser
- Petroleum gel or antibacterial ointment
- Scar cream with onion extract or vitamin C
- Gentle scrub with spherical beads
- Sunscreen with SPF 30
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