Scarring Easily

[Miranda]

http://www.3m.com/product/informatio...ical-Tape.html

This tape is very cheap, and performs very well, ime/o.

I learned about it from a plastic surgeon. I've tried Mederma, some sil topical gel, and the sil sheets. This about $3 a roll tape beats it all hands down for raised scars. I have both scars that I used the tape on... and ones without... the "without" ones are raised... "with" ones are perfectly flat and smooth. Besides keeping the scar smooth (because the skin can't raise up to scar w the pressure of the tape), it also keeps the scar lines supported together to reduce width.

I didn't even realize the tape came in skin color. I used the white color. My scars we covered by clothing mostly, so it didn't matter. I did have to wear the tape for many weeks/months I'm remembering here.

At first the tape won't seem like it will stick. As it heats to your body, it will stick nicely. Also just wear it straight into the shower. If any ends are curling up, simply blow dry lightly with hair dryer. It lasts about 3wks before it really starts falling off. Simply remove, and retape w new. Can be found at any drug store.

As posted, the sun is said to permenantly darken scars exposed within the first year. Sunblock should be used even under clothing to protect it from the sun's rays. However, that's tough w tape. For me, as a fair natural redhead, my scars color simply needs time. Takes about 3yrs to fade to pale white lines.

For awful road rash on half the side of my face from crashing, I kept it most with bactracian topical antibiotic ointment. Same thing already posted about not letting the wound scab. The ER doc told me it's the scabbing and pulling of the skin that aids in making the scar. It took a while wearing it, but my face is smooth.

Just parting thought... scars tell a story of where your life has been... those mtb scars are happy times... well, up to the point of crashing anyways lol. Good Luck.

p.s. edit: Also, for scars that seems to have a lot crunchy internal lumpy stuff, massage can help once healed well. PT told me this for my face when my sunglasses split and cut next to my eye socket. It took of while of squeezing pressure massage everyday, but it's also smooth. Some people pay for laser tx from the derm doc for scars, but no personal exp w that.

[OakLeaf]

@Pax - do you have any tips for protecting the healing wound from the bra band? They took out as many of the internal sutures as they could get, but there are still a couple of them sticking through the skin and it's REALLY irritating. They couldn't give me an estimate on when they might dissolve. Covering the whole scar just isn't an option any longer ... it's been a week and a half and I still have red marks from the (latex-free) adhesive. /hijack

[Pax]

@Pax - do you have any tips for protecting the healing wound from the bra band? They took out as many of the internal sutures as they could get, but there are still a couple of them sticking through the skin and it's REALLY irritating. They couldn't give me an estimate on when they might dissolve. Covering the whole scar just isn't an option any longer ... it's been a week and a half and I still have red marks from the (latex-free) adhesive. /hijack

I'm allergic to adhesive too, it scars me almost as bad as a wound does. Fun.

I switched to a soft pullover bra from "Barely There" and that helped a bunch... but they only seem to work well with smaller breasts.

[OakLeaf]

Thanks!

Smaller, I got. There was a picture in the paper taken just before the mass start of a local ride, and I was wondering who that guy was in our club jersey, before I realized it was me.

[boomermtbiker]

this will be a lengthy post~ i'm new here & am healing from facial abrasions. A dog darted in front of me & i went over the handlebars. thought i'd post what i've learned in the last 30 days & pass it along. i just got home from the dermatologist & he told me my progress was great! - 30 days after the accident - despite minor setbacks. The entire left side of my face was abraded.

i'm using the keyboard 1-handed due to a cast , so all lowercase. i'm 56 y.o., very fair skinned & scar easily & understandably, very concerned on caring for the abrasions to minimize scarring.

the E.R. doc told me :

1. keep it moist
2. wash w/ anti-bacterial soap & let air dry, 3x per day
3. apply very thin, thin layer of triple-antibiotic oinyment
4. keep covered, don't let scabs form
5. don't use hydro. peroxide or alcohol, this damages cells

i then started research on the web & found this, which was extremely helpful. bandaids are very hard to keep re-applying - this worked for me:
http://www.obra.org/wound_care.html

precautions: don't apply thick layer of neosporine or vaseline - that will cause problems.

i applied vaseline which was recommended but for some reason immediately after that application, things got infected. A consult w/ doc. & i got an oral antibiotic which worked a miracle. i went back to neosporine, thin layer massaged onto abrasion & that was key to my healing.

i was very strict on diet, no fooling around:
1. lots of blueberries, fruits, veggies, tomatoes, salads, juices & sports drinks & tons of water
2. no alcohol or desserts
3. lots of protein.
4. take good vitamins

best thing to avoid:
1. no sun!! use hats. i took walks at sundown

for healed, pink skin (takes 1-3 weeks)
1. massage vit. E lotion
2. use mederma - i have but things got a little red so i switched to lotion
3. scars continue to heal and form new collagen - massage helps align that collagen, fill in underneath and heal for 12 mos. after!

there was a lot of info. out there, most of it on bike forums. Formerly, before this accident, i didn't cover minor or med. wounds, just let them scab over - wrong! wash, use neosporine or equal, then keep hands off, cover. i really hope i don't have noticeable scars but my dermatlogist was happy & i'm optimistic.