Improve How Your Scars Heal

Wounds need a lot of energy to heal well. Since energy can only come from food, it is vital to eat healthily especially before and after surgery, or after an injury. Crucial nutrients for wound healing include protein, zinc and the vitamins A and C.

So what are the best things to eat? Meats, nuts, beans and dairy products are great sources of protein. Yogurt, green peas, beef, oysters, black beans and crab are great sources of zinc. Carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach and apricots are great sources of vitamin A. Citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables are great sources of Vitamin C.

Unfortunately, the body does not divert enough vitamin C to the skin. Using a topical scar treatment containing a stable form of vitamin C will increase the amount of vitamin C reaching the skin.

Good hydration is also crucial so it is important to drink enough water. Dehydration causes the skin and soft tissues to lose moisture and become dry. Dry wounds do not heal well. A good goal is to drink eight (8 oz) glasses of water a day. Avoid caffeinated products because caffeine can cause dehydration. Scar treatments containing dimethicone silicone also help boost hydration by trapping moisture. This improves scar healing.

Smoking can also really affect healing. The nicotine in cigarette smoke causes blood vessels to shrink, so tissues do not receive enough of the nutrients and oxygen required for healing. At best, this can cause the wound healing process to take much longer. At worst, smoking can cause wounds to breakdown and open up. These “problem” wounds typically eventually heal but leave the worst scars. Unfortunately, many smoking-cessation products will also increase the risk of healing problems because of the nicotine they contain!

Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide. This combines with blood cells preventing them from carrying oxygen. This lowers the level of oxygen in the blood. Since oxygen is vital for healing, it is crucial to stop smoking to decrease the risk of healing complications.

Another great thing to do is exercise. Regular aerobic exercise improves healing and boosts the immune system. Start with walking and progressively build up to more of a sweat (but don’t forget to get the “all-clear” from your doctor if you are recovering from surgery).

Dr C


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PRMA Plastic Surgery specializes in advanced breast reconstruction procedures that use the patient's own tissue. Procedures offered include the DIEP flap, SIEA flap, GAP flap, and TUG flap reconstruction. We are In-Network for most US insurance plans. Patients are routinely welcomed from across and outside the USA. Connect with other breast cancer reconstruction patients at www.facebook.com/PRMAplasticsurgery.

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Scar Healing - Tips For "Invisible" Scars

Scar healing is the result of biologic wound repair and is a complex process. With the exception of minor lesions, every skin wound causes some degree of permanent scarring.

My breast reconstruction patients often ask for advice on how to improve their scars. While expecting 100% invisible scars may not be realistic, it is possible to influence the body's scar healing mechanism to improve scar appearance and texture significantly.

The word "scar" comes from the Greek word "eschara", meaning "place of fire." Scar tissue is different from normal skin. It is inferior both in appearance and function. For example, scars are much less resistant to the sun's ultraviolet rays and more prone to sunburn. Scars also lack a blood supply or sweat glands, and they never grow hair.

Complete scar healing can take up to 2 years. Scars continue to soften, flatten and fade during this time. Unfortunately, some scars become more problematic over time by:

- Growing larger or more raised
- Causing itching
- Becoming painful
- Becoming permanently pigmented (dark red/brown)
- Restricting motion

Various factors influence the way scars heal:

1) Age - younger skin is more prone to abnormal and exaggerated scarring. This can lead to hypertrophic or keloid scars. Older skin takes longer to recover.

2) Skin type - scar healing is typically worse in people with darker skin types. African and Hispanic ancestry is associated with a higher risk of developing hypertrophic or keloid scars.

3) Genetics - abnormal scarring can be inherited.

4) Location - Movement of scars over joints can make them wider.

5) Infection - Infected wounds do not heal well. The final scar may be raised, wide, uneven and abnormally red or dark.

6) Poor nutrition - not eating healthily can deprive the body of much needed nutrients (like protein), vitamins (like vitamin C) and minerals (like copper and zinc) that are needed for optimal wound healing.

7) Smoking - components of cigarette smoke cause blood vessels to clamp down and decrease blood flow. Wounds that do not receive enough blood are more prone to poor wound healing and worse scarring.

8) Sun exposure - exposing fresh scars to the sun can cause permanent redness which makes the scar more obvious.

So what can you do to improve scar healing?

1) Keep fresh wounds clean. Don't be afraid to wash your wounds but use a skin-friendly soap like Dial. Also keep fresh wounds covered to prevent dirt and bacteria entering and increasing the risk of an infection.

2) Eat healthily.

3) Don't smoke.

4) Protect scars from the sun. Cover them with clothing initially and use sunblock as soon as the scar is healed enough.

5) Scar massage - firm massage of the scar for several minutes, multiple times a day has been shown to help soften and flatten scars.

6) Use a scientifically-proven scar treatment - there are plenty of options out there but most promise much and deliver little. Commonly recommended therapies include onion extract (like Mederma skin care) and vitamin E. Multiple clinical studies have shown that neither of these are beneficial for scar healing. Vitamin E actually causes contact dermatitis in up to 33% of users!

Scientifically proven scar treatments to look for include dimethicone silicone sheeting or gel (soften scars), topical vitamin C (lightens darks scars and promotes healthy collagen), and some (all-natural) botanicals like licorice extract (lightens dark scars) and aloe vera (anti-inflammatory). Whichever scar treatment you choose, start using it as soon as initial scar healing has taken place and continue using it until no further improvement in scar appearance is seen.

I encourage everyone to become familiar with the scientific evidence behind common scar treatments and to carefully examine product labels before buying.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon with a special interest in scar healing and breast cancer reconstruction. He is also Chief Science Officer of C&H Scientific, makers of the scar treatment InviCible Scars. Follow us on Twitter and join us on Facebook for more scar treatment tips!

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