| This Article provides Information on most of the | | | | These scars, unlike keloids, remain within the limits of |
| Home Remedies for Scars which are especially | | | | the original wound. They often improve on their own, |
| recommended by users. First we will discuss about | | | | though it may take a year or more. They may also |
| Scars. | | | | require steroid applications or in some cases may |
| A scar is the pinkish or brown patch of skin that | | | | have to be improved surgically. |
| grows in the place where you once had a wound or | | | | 3. Contractures: |
| sore. They are areas of fibrous tissue that replace | | | | Burns or other injuries that result in the loss of a |
| normal skin tissue after destruction of some of the | | | | large area of skin may form a scar that pulls the |
| dermis. A scar is thus the skin's natural way of | | | | edges of the skin together, a process called |
| repairing itself from injury. Most people have scars. | | | | contraction. |
| The word scar is derived from the Greek word | | | | Improving a contracture usually involves cutting out |
| eschara, meaning fireplace. | | | | the scar and replacing it with a skin graft or a flap. In |
| Every skin injury or wound heals with a scar. The | | | | some cases, a procedure known as Z-plasty may be |
| appearance of a scar however depends on the type | | | | used. |
| and extent of the wound, as well as how an | | | | 4. Facial scars: |
| individual's body heals. | | | | Mostly, facial scars are cut out and closed with tiny |
| Scar tissue is not similar to the tissue that it replaces | | | | stitches, leaving a less noticeable scar. Some facial |
| and is usually of inferior quality. There is no hair | | | | scars can be softened using a technique called |
| growth on the scar tissue, and the skin there | | | | dermabrasion, that leaves a smoother surface to the |
| becomes less resistant to ultraviolet radiation. | | | | skin, but does not completely erase the scar. |
| How scarring occurs? | | | | Scar treatment procedures - |
| Scarring occur when the deep dermis layer of skin is | | | | No scar can be completely removed. They will always |
| damaged. The deeper the damage, the worse the | | | | leave behind a trace, but a number of procedures |
| scar. | | | | can improve their appearance. |
| Many skin scars are pale and leave a trace of the | | | | Surgery - |
| original injury that caused them. The time that a scar | | | | Surgery will never completely remove a scar but can |
| takes to form may range from a few days to, in | | | | be used to alter its location or shape to make it less |
| some serious and rare cases, several years. Various | | | | noticeable. Surgery is at times necessary to remove |
| treatments can speed up the process in serious | | | | a scar on skin near a joint where it restricts |
| cases. | | | | movement, but it will leave another scar. |
| To repair the damage, the body has to lay down | | | | Laser surgery & resurfacing - |
| new collagen tissues As the body cannot re-build the | | | | The use of laser on scars is still on an experimental |
| tissue exactly as it was, the scar tissue will have a | | | | phase, as the safety or effectiveness has not yet |
| different texture and quality than the surrounding | | | | been proven. |
| normal tissue. An injury does not become a scar until | | | | Steroid injections - |
| the wound has completely healed. | | | | A course of steroid injections into the scar may help |
| Factors affecting scar formation - | | | | flatten and soften the appearance of keloid or |
| Many factors affect the severity of scar formation, | | | | hypertrophic scars. |
| such as - | | | | Z-Plasty - |
| 1) The size and depth of the wound. | | | | Z-plasty is a surgical technique used to relocate a |
| 2) Location of the injury on the body. | | | | scar so that it more closely matches to the natural |
| 3) The blood supply to the area. | | | | creases of the skin, where it will be less noticeable. In |
| 4) Age of the person | | | | this procedure, the old scar is removed and new |
| 5) The thickness, type and colour of the person's | | | | incisions are made on each side, creating small |
| skin. | | | | triangular flaps of skin. |
| 6) The direction of the scar. | | | | Skin grafting - |
| Once a scar forms, it is permanent. However, it may | | | | Grafting involves the transfer of skin from a healthy |
| be made less visible or displaced surgically. | | | | part of the body to cover the injured area. All grafts |
| Can scars be completely removed? | | | | leave some scarring at the donor and recipient sites. |
| There is no way to remove scars completely. | | | | Make sure that your expectations from any surgery |
| However, a skilled surgeon can definitely improve the | | | | are realistic. You cannot expect that old scars will |
| appearance of the scar by disguising it, relocating it, | | | | completely disappear; however, they will always turn |
| or minimizing its prominence. | | | | flatter, paler and softer. |
| Skin colour and type, age, and the size of the scar, | | | | Home Remedies for Scars |
| are important factors that go on to decide the | | | | * A mixture of sandalwood paste and black gram |
| outcome of a surgery to remove a scar. | | | | paste helps reduce the intensity of scars if started |
| Different types of scars respond to different plastic | | | | early. This is effective Home Remedy for Scars |
| surgery techniques. Timing of the surgery is another | | | | . |
| important factor. The younger the scar, the more | | | | * Rubbing your skin with ice cubes helps to tighten |
| satisfactory is the result of the surgery. Therefore, if | | | | the skin. |
| you want to have your scar removed, do not wait, | | | | * You can use cucumber and lemon juice on your |
| until as advised by the doctor. | | | | scars. This is another good Home Remedy for Scars |
| Types of scars - | | | | * Vitamin E oil when applied on the scarred skin may |
| 1. Keloid scars: | | | | do wonders for your skin. |
| Keloids are itchy clusters of scar tissue that grow | | | | * To prevent deepening of the scars, apply aloe vera |
| beyond the edges of the wound or incision. They | | | | gel, cod liver oil or vitamin E oil. |
| occur when the body continues to produce the | | | | * Applying cocoa butter is also a good remedy in |
| tough, fibrous protein known as collagen after a | | | | getting rid of the scars. This is also effective Home |
| wound has healed. They are more common in | | | | Remedy for Scars |
| dark-skinned people. | | | | Author is an Ayurvedic doctor having years of |
| Keloids are treated by injecting a steroid medication | | | | experience in the field of Ayurveda and Alternative |
| directly into the scar tissue to reduce redness and | | | | medicine. Find out more Home Remedies for Scars at |
| itching. However, the disheartening fact is that keloids | | | | |
| have a tendency to recur, sometimes even larger | | | | He has an exclusive website on Home Remedies for |
| than before, thus requiring repeated procedures. | | | | various diseases. You can also contribute to the |
| 2. Hypertrophic scars: | | | | Home remedies by visiting the website. |