Living in the information age is a double edged sword. On one hand, you can find information on anything you desire to learn about. Conversely, for every piece of information out there, there is a piece of misinformation that may muddy the waters. When it comes to scar treatment, there are a multitude of “home remedies” that might actually cause more harm than good. We’re going to go over the 5 most common myths, and also provide you with clarification and solutions so your skin heals correctly.
Going out in the sun will make the scar blend in when it tans
While well intentioned, this piece of information is fallacious. UV rays actually cause hyperpigmentation of the skin, which will cause your scar to stand out even more. Additionally, sunburn can irritate the scar tissue, and cause it to flake. The best practice in this scenario is to use SPF 30 or higher, and to avoid any contact with the sun that will irritate your skin. While it’s okay to safely get your tan on if you’re hitting the beach, just know that deliberately exposing your scar to extreme temperatures will further damage your skin.
Cleaning new skin growth with hydrogen peroxide is the best practice
While hydrogen peroxide has its own tried and true topical benefits, it actually destroys new skin cells and slows down the healing process. Your safest bet is to clean any healing area gently with warm water and soap. When in doubt, contact your physician for any topical treatments.
Vitamin E will improve skin health
A common misconception is that Vitamin E is a cure-all for damaged skin. The truth of the matter is that it hinders the healing process. Your best bet is to talk to your doctor about medically proven topical scar treatments that contain Vitamin C. The antioxidant properties of Vitamin C have been known to improve the healing process.
“Airing it out” will help you heal faster
The idea of airing it out is counterintuitive because wounds need moisture to heal. If you’re deliberately drying out your skin, you can delay healing, or worse cause further damage to the tissue. The best course of action is to keep your scar covered and moist with an antibiotic or a silicone scar gel like ScarMD. This way you’ll be sure that new surface cells are forming and being nurtured properly.
All scars turn light and eventually fade
While true for certain types of scars, keloid and hypertrophic scars often require special treatment. Silicone based scar gels have been known to reduce visibility and roughness of both keloid and hypertrophic scars. While application of silicone scar gels like ScarMD needs to be regular and consistent, using such treatments over time will reduce visibility and roughness of your scars.
About AIM Medical
AIM Medical is a skincare products research, engineering and manufacturing company based in the world's medtech hub - Boston, Massachusetts. Dedicated to developing novel, safe, yet highly effective portfolio of products that target common dermatologic conditions, AIM Medical advances the high value opportunities for products that focus on wound care and atopic dermatitis. At AIM Medical we are proud of our heritage of creating health and beauty through technology innovation. We have aligned AIM Medical to be a worldwide healthcare brand advancing the cutting edge technologies to work in real.