Remedies for scars?

[Liz K]

A few weeks ago I had a patch of skin removed from my upper arm (bicep area) that was pre-cancerous. Now I have a scar that's about an inch long. Any recommendations on how to shrink it? It hasn't started to kelloid yet, but I think part of it will.

[Sara Emily]

Liz, the only suggestion I can offer is one you are probably already familiar with, and that is using vitamin E capsules that you pierce with a pin on the area several times daily. My surgeon strongly recommended this and I believe that it helped me. I hope that it will be of benefit to you also, and perhaps you'll receive some other helpful suggestions here. Good luck! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[funnybone]

Sara Emily is right - the same method was suggested when my son received stitches above his eye, last year. You can buy Vitamin E oil, but the vitamins are cheaper, plus fresher, since you can only get so much oil out of one capsule.

[Peeps]

In addition to Vitamin E try Palmer's Cocoa Butter.

[HARRYET]

something else to consider, when my daughter cut her face as a baby the Doc told me to keep sunscreen on it, because if it burns the chances of it scarring are greater!, and we know short sleeve, sleevless and bathing suit weather is just around the corner! Except maybe for me it was 93 today! yikes! it's gonna be a long hot summer!

Good Luck Ann

[This message has been edited by HARRYET (edited 04-24-2001).]

[Laura B]

How much do you think using the Vitamin E oil on a year old scar would help? I have a scar on my knee from a fall I had just over a year ago (tripped on some uneven pavement at my apartment complex - I ought to sue http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif ). I should have been putting oil on it all along, but didn't for some reason. I guess I thought that it would go away by itself. But now I am worried that I am going to have an ugly patch on my knee forever. Anyway, any thoughts?

[Liz K]

I have heard of vitamin E oil and my mom gave me some emu oil to try. Even before the skin cancer scare, I've been using sunscreen and staying out of the sun, so at least that won't add to the scarring.

[foodiedelite]

Liz,

I had two suspicious moles removed last June by my Dermatologist. After 4 mos. I felt they weren't healing fast enough. One is on my upper arm (deltoid area) and another on my upper back. I was experiencing itching and red inflammation. My Dr. said it was normal and for me to speed up the healing to purchase an ointment made from onion skins. I can't remember the exact name, but your Pharmacist will know. She also recommended daily massaging of the scars by circular motion, finger in middle of incision area upright and turning in a circular motion. It's been almost a year and the scars seem to fading a little.

If something doesn't feel quite right, or if it doesn't seem to be healing fast enough, I wouldn't hesitate to call your Dr. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by foodiedelite (edited 04-24-2001).]

[erinyyc]

I had extensive reconstructive surgery (pins and screws to re-build bones) in my leg and foot after a hiking accident. The scars went from my toes to my mid-thigh and I hate to even imagine what they would have looked like without the vitamin E oil. My Dr. gave me a prescription for the oil because the scarring was so extensive that it would have taken many, many capsules to cover the area. For a small scar the capsules are perfect!! I may even put on a pair of shorts this summer!!!
Erin http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Liz K]

Beacooker, I have seen those patches at the store. The ones I saw were under $20 and you were to wear it for 30 days continuously.

I'm waiting for the redness to go down and then I'm going to try the vitamin E oil route. So far it looks like it won't keloid, which was my main concern.

[beacooker]

Liz -
I have a scar on my neck from a cat scratch I got about a year ago. My doctor recommended some silicone sheets that you put on the scar. You can find the sheets at http://www.allerderm.com/consumers/scar_repair.asp

DH assures me that the scar is smaller, but I'm not all that sure its helping. It was about $100 for the kit, so I would only try it if the Vitamin E doesn't work.

[Kristilyn1]

I meant to post on this a few days ago--but got busy and forgot. Scarring is something that I've become very familiar with lately. Last summer my five year old received 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his back from hot coffee. He is thankfully fully recovered--he was treated by Shriners Burn Institute in Boston and scar management is a LOT of what they do. Thankfully, his scarring may cover a large area--but due to their recommendations--it will be much less than it could have been. A couple of big things they promote:

Protein--kids at Shriners are typically encouraged to eat large quantities of protein as this is considered extremely important for skin healing.

Eucerin Cream (vs. the lotion) massaged into the skin--2-3 times a day.

NO SUN--sunblock and clothing coverage encouraged.

For a period of time after the accident and still in one small area--a pressure-type bandage is used. We get a special gel based bandage from Shriners, but I have seen similar products at drugstores--in the bandage/first aid aisle. This greatly reduces the hardness of a scar. Interestingly, and this may be because it's burns vs. other types of scarring--but they do not recommend Vitamin E at all. Not that they discourage it--they just don't recommend it. These recommendations we have been following for almost a year now and the results have been truly amazing. If you saw his back today vs. last year--you would not believe it. Another thing to keep in mind is that even almost a year later--his scars are still evolving--treatment should be continued for a lengthy amount of time to ensure permanent improvement. I hope this is helpful for anyone dealing with a scar.

Good luck!

Kristi

[Liz K]

Kristi,
That is good info. I'm glad to know that your son is doing much better.

Just wanted to let ya'll know that I found this stuff at the store called Mederma (ask for it at the pharmacy counter). It's $26/tube, so I didn't buy it, but the pharmacist said it promotes faster healing and minimizes scars.