Skin recovery after injuries, burns, etc., will lead to scar formation. Once formed, scars cannot be completely removed. Surgery can help minimize them, but if not done carefully, it may result in larger scars.
Hypertrophic Scars: These are often due to a predisposition to hypertrophic scarring or genetic factors. After surgery, the recurrence rate is high. Some individuals not prone to hypertrophic scars may develop them if the wound or surgical site is poorly treated, experiences trauma, or becomes infected. Based on the location, the doctor will decide on the appropriate treatment method. This may involve excising the raised area, dermabrasion, laser treatment, or injecting anti-scar medication if the scar starts to elevate again.
Excessive Scars: These scars gradually expand, becoming larger and fuller; they typically appear in certain areas of the body such as the shoulders, chest, around the navel, or the lower back. The treatment approach is similar to that for hypertrophic scars.
Atrophic Scars: These can be treated by grafting autologous fat beneath the skin or injecting dermal fillers directly into the skin (materials such as Hyaluronic Acid or Collagen can be used to fill in atrophic scars). Laser treatment is also being employed to fill in atrophic scars and reduce hypertrophic scars.
White Scars: These occur when skin tissue loses pigmentation, resulting in a white scar. To restore the skin in this area to its original color, the entire scar must be excised and replaced with new skin grafts. Currently, medicine has no methods to eliminate scars beyond skin grafting or transferring skin flaps from other areas.
Hyperpigmented Scars: Any scar can darken due to the reaction of pigment cells under sunlight. This type of scar will fade over time. It is essential to avoid sunlight and use sunscreen when going outdoors. You may use pigment-inhibiting medications such as Leucodinine B or Hydroquinone.
Chemical Burn Scars: These scars often cause retraction, deforming surrounding tissues. Depending on the case, surgical intervention may be needed one or multiple times, with intervals of a few months (to allow blood vessels to nourish the replacement tissue adequately, ensuring the grafted or transferred tissue does not become necrotic later).
Cosmetic surgery is a double-edged sword. If you are fortunate to have a skilled doctor who uses the correct methods, your appearance can improve significantly; conversely, poor outcomes can lead to wasted money, regret, and lifelong dissatisfaction. The plastic surgery of unsightly scars is no exception to this rule. When operating on a scar, the doctor must excise it, which means the incision will be wider and the sutures will also be larger than the previous scar. An experienced doctor will determine the best approach based on the case and individual predisposition to cleverly conceal and minimize the scar.
If the doctor lacks specialization, is inflexible, and strictly follows procedural surgical practices, the scar may end up larger and more pronounced. Each surgery performed by such a doctor risks worsening your scar, making it progressively larger and hypertrophic… However, those who are “scar victims” can find some solace in knowing that if your scar is new and cannot be surgically treated, the doctor may inject a medication such as Triamcinolone to shrink the scar over the next six months. Nonetheless, the choice of method depends on the doctor.
Scar Prevention
Minor Injuries: For acne, minor cuts, etc., where the wound heals quickly and the skin requires minimal regeneration, it is advisable to clean the area thoroughly with saline solution. For cuts, the torn skin should be aligned properly, and a bandage should be applied to control bleeding and fluid. After the wound dries, fresh turmeric can be applied directly to promote skin regeneration.
Open Wounds, Skin Loss: It is crucial to keep the area clean and ventilated from the moment of injury. You can wash the initial wound with cooled boiled water, then rinse with saline or diluted iodine. Use a dry gauze to clean the wound before seeing a doctor for treatment. Typically, you will be prescribed oral and topical antibiotics to prevent infection. Additionally, when the wound begins to scab, applying fresh turmeric juice directly over the entire surface of the wound can be beneficial. When the wound scabs, particularly during the healing phase when it itches, do not pick at the scab as this can lead to infection and cause larger, longer-healing scars.
Post-Surgical Recovery: When saving your life is the priority, the incisions may not be aesthetically pleasing, and the scars are often large. When the wound has dried or the stitches are removed, you can consider minimizing the scar by consuming turmeric and applying it directly to the wound. Avoid eating water spinach (which can cause hypertrophic scars) and seafood (which can cause itching). Always keep the wound clean and dry.
Burns: Regardless of the type of burn, using ice water to cool the area in the first few minutes can effectively constrict blood vessels, relieve pain, and dissipate heat immediately. After that, use cooled boiled water to soak the burn while on the way to the hospital for treatment. Applying egg whites to the burn immediately is also an effective first aid measure. Burn wounds should be kept clean and well-ventilated. Applying fresh turmeric juice to the wound right from the early days can stimulate rapid skin regeneration.
Hypertrophic Scar Predisposition: An excessive amount of connective tissue proliferates and undergoes hyaline degeneration, leading to the formation of excessively raised scars that extend beyond the original damage. For these individuals, even the slightest external stimulation to the wound while the skin is regenerating can provoke inflammation, leading to larger scars, such as scratching or rubbing… Even if the wound has fully healed, if the large scar prompts the client to seek change, careful consideration is necessary, as attempting to revise a hypertrophic scar may create even larger scars than initially present. Scar removal treatments and skin-lightening creams can be used to “thin” the scar and reduce the bright red, purplish, or dark pink color of the scar.
Dietary Recommendations
Foods to Avoid: Sticky rice, chicken, and spicy foods can cause infections and prolong healing. Eggs can cause uneven healing similar to tinea versicolor. Water spinach promotes cell proliferation, leading to raised scars. Seafood can trigger itchiness and discomfort…
Recommended Foods: The first piece of advice from doctors for those needing skin regeneration is to eat plenty of meat. It is a vital source of nutrition that helps the body restore balance. Various vegetables are beneficial for wounds healing, with turmeric being particularly encouraged for those needing to regenerate cells. Fish mint (Polygonum odoratum) provides natural antibiotics that are excellent for anti-inflammatory and antibacterial purposes…
