How to Prevent Scary Scars

Whether you were in a car accident, cut yourself with a knife while cooking, or got injured while playing some intramural sports, having a scar can be one of two things: either really cool to look at and brag about or something that’s beyond embarrassing. If you feel like your scar is the ladder, consider getting scar revision done by Dr. Larry Weinstein.

Because Dr. Weinstein has conducted years of research on hypertrophic and keloid scars, he knows that one of the biggest reasons that they form is due to contamination, traumatized edges, and even genetics. Luckily, through his research, he has found a few tried and true ways to prevent these types of deep scars. Let’s take a closer look.

Clean the Wound Well

Cleaning a wound may sound super simple, but it can be quite painful. If you come into our office, Dr. Weinstein usually recommends some anesthesia before he cleans your wound. By properly cleaning the wound, removing any debris and bacterial contaminants, Dr. Weinstein’s belief is that the world has a better chance to heal without visual scarring.

Debridement

The second step that Dr. Weinstein swears by is to remove any damaged tissues or edges of the wound to help create smoother, non-traumatized edges. By using an atraumatic technique and small sutures, the goal is to close the wound and protect it from any outside contaminants. In some instances, an antibiotic will be given to help reduce bacterial proliferation.

Don’t Scratch, Rub, or Gnaw

One of the most annoying parts of having a scar that is healing is that it is so itchy. However, one of the worst things you can do when a wound is healing is to scratch, rub, or gnaw at it because it will lead to scarring. Try using either Benadryl or calamine lotion around the wound to help with itching and then on the wound after two weeks.

Tissue Expanders

In some instances, Dr. Weinstein may recommend placing a tissue expander underneath the wound which can help flatten a wound and reduce scar visibility in the process.

Because Dr. Weinstein has spent so much time researching hypertrophic and keloid scars, we offer patients a variety of different treatment methods. Ready to learn more about how we can help your wound heal? Schedule a consultation at our Chester office today 908-879-2222.

Posted in Scarfix on February 28th, 2018

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