Wound and Scar Care Tips

WOUND & SCAR CARE TIPS WOUND CARE MYTH. Exposing wounds to the air to let them dry delays healing. A dry environment promotes cell death and scabs increase scarring. Keeping it clean, moist and covered is better. "The first scientist to discover the benefits of keeping a wound moist was George D. Winter. In 1962 he found out that the regrowth (epithelialization) of skin would proceed twice as fast in a moist environment than under a scab." BENEFITS OF MOIST WOUND HEALING REMOVAL OF WOUND DRESSING IS LESS SCAR TISSUE THUS BETTER COSMETIC EXPERIENCE PAINLESS AND NEWLY FORMED TISSUE, WILL REMAIN INTACT WOUNDS HEAL UP TO THERE'S LESS 50% (RISK ON) INFECTION FASTER HOW TO KEEP WOUNDS CLEAN, COVERED AND MOIST? VASELINE PROMOTES MOIST ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTS MANUKA HONEY ENHANCES THE HEALING PROCESS, FIGHTS AND Manuka PREVENTS INFECTION ( EVEN STAPH INFECTIONS AND MRSA) Vaseline FROM INVASION BY MICRO- ORGANISMS. NO MEDICINAL EFFECT. Honey MEDIHONEY IS A MEDICAL GRADE. FDA APPROVED MANUKA HONEY. HYDROCOLLOID DRESSINGS FORM A GEL WITH WATER. ARE OCCLUSIVE, ADHESIVE AND ABSORBENT.NOT SUITED FOR HEAVILY EXUDING WOUNDS. Medihoney SCAR TREATMENT When a wound has closed scar treatment can start. MYTH. Vitamin e oil heals scars. Vitamin E oil, e.g. from cap- sules did cause allergic reaction in 30% of the individuals during a study. "This study shows that there is no benefit to the cosmetic outcome of scars by applying vitamin E after skin surgery and that the application of topical vitamin E may actually be detrimental to the cosmetic ap- pearance of a scar. In 90% of the cases in this study, topical vitamin E either had no effect on, or actually worsened, the cosmetic appear- ance of scars. SCAR TYPES • Hypertrophic. Raised, elevated, red, itchy, painful scar? Use silicone gel sheets or ointment. Proven effec- tive and used by burn centers and hospitals since the 1980's Wikipedia also states silicone gel sheeting having the most widely accepted role in general scar treatment to- gether with steroid injections. More invasive are steroid injections. They also soften and flatten scar tissue but possible side effects are involved. SILICONE GEL SHEET • Atrophic. Sunken, depressed, pitted scars. Best treat- ments: microneedling or fillers. Downside fillers: effect often temporarily. Microneedling (dermaroller) is backed by some scientific and increasing anecdotal evi- dence. DERMAROLLER OTHER SCAR TREATMENT TIPS: -Gently massage, -keep out of the sun, -don't smoke -hydrate by using a cream or lotion of your liking.