* field is required

Dr. Kane's Scar Care Regimen Petoskey

Hints for nursing your wound into the best possible scar

Scars are an unavoidable permanent consequence of anything that divides the skin. Plastic Surgery minimizes but does not avoid scars. When the consequence of injury, scars have a higher level of visibility in most cases because the skin was not divided sharply and precisely (or in a strategic low visibility location) such as is the case with Plastic Surgery.

Scars are the all-important end result of the skin sealing itself and re-establishing the body’s barrier to germs.

Most scars are in a process of maturation for over 18 to 24 months which amounts in most cases to aesthetically favorable changes such as a reduction in their blood vessel concentration (what you see is “fading”) and collagen content (what you feel is “softening”). Letting a scar get dry and flakey or picking at or itching it can promote scar growth.

There are many factors that account for scar formation following surgery and these include one’s genes, one’s age, the location on the body, surgical technique and the healing course- the latter can be favorably influenced by scar care.

I do recommend a specific scientifically proven regimen for post-surgical scar care as I do believe it can reduce inflammatory action within a scar and thereby reduce its internal stimulus to thicken or grow excessively. I do not recommend Mederma® or ointments like Neosporin® or Bacitracin® which often cause inflammation.

Use this regimen when possible from day 10 until 3 months postoperatively:

Scar guard®

This works to seal moisture into and compress and stabilize the scar. Use it after your glue and sutures are gone- typically 10 days after surgery.

Apply at bed time after soap and water cleaning and remove each morning.

Vitamin E Oil 400 IU in capsules

This is a topical antioxidant. I like the capsules because they are a fresh source of non-air contaminated vitamin E every few days and because when the pill is pierced with a pin it makes a nice applicator.

Apply at meals (3-4 times throughout the day)

Sunscreen with BOTH UVA/ UVB protection

Ultraviolet rays are irritating to scars and they will thwart the fading process. These 5 sunscreens received Consumer Reports’ highest ratings in 2010: