Scarring Easily

[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.