Scars Treatment Guide

Archive for May, 2010

Stretch marks are an ugly, unattractive and unwanted type of scar of the skin.  Women usually develop stretch marks during pregnancy.  Bodybuilders can also develop stretch marks by building muscles.   This type of scars looks like grooves in the skin.  They are so dreadful looking that people try tons of methods to get rid of them.

Stretch marks appear in most common places – in the abdomen, breasts, arms, underarm, thigh, hips and buttocks.  They are caused by tearing skin’s layer from rapid stretching from weight loss or weight gain.  The overstretched skin may results in stretch marks.

At first, stretch marks show up as reddish or purplish lines.  Their appearances do diminish and turn lighter overtime… but unfortunately, they do not disappear completely.

By following a few proper methods and treatments, the appearances of stretch marks can be diminished.

1. Improve your skin appearance and reduce the appearances of stretch marks by stimulating circulation of your skin by brushing it with a skin brusher while taking a shower
2. Keep your skin healthy and moist by massaging cocoa butter and Vitamin E oil into the skin and stretch marks.  Healthy and moist skin reduces the appearance of stretch marks
3. Replenish your skin by eating foods rich in vitamins A, C and E or by taking supplements in addition to your diet
4. Keep your skin’s elasticity by applying moisturizing cream over your stretch mark.  Prevent your skin from drying – especially during the dry and winter days, apply plenty and frequently moisturizers to your skin
5. Keep your body hydrated. Drink plenty of water per day to ensure your body and each cell of your body is properly functioning by keeping hydrated to remove toxins and keep your body clean and healthy
6. Increase the strength of your skin by eating foods high in essential fatty acids (such as fish), protein, citrus foods, nuts and vegetables.  Your skin will be tighter smoother and healthier
7. Repair damaged skin with herbal plant like Aloe vera .  Aloe vera contains plant collagen which will help the dermal layer and stimulate the skin elasticity to help reduce scars and stretch marks
8. Help your skin breath by exfoliating once in a while to get rid of dead skin cells from the surface to stimulate the grow of the skin underneath and improve the appearance of your skin and stretch marks

Remember, it takes time to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.  There is no miracle process or overnight process.  The best you can do is to follow a regular procedure and by keeping it simple.

Nobody likes to have scars.  Especially, facial scars.  They can be more frustrating than others because you see them every time you look in the mirror. Facial scars are daily reminders of injury or accident that cause the facial scarring.

If it was that easy, the easiest solution is to prevent facial scarring.  However, sometimes that’s unpreventable.

The skin of your face is a very sensitive part of your body.  It can be prone to scarring.  And good care should be taken to prevent injuries or damages.

It’s also a good idea to protect it from environmental factors such as sun, wind and even freezing temperatures.  Good hygiene can go a long way to prevent facial scarring.  Keep your face clean and moist.  Protect it from the sun and from harsh weather.

Like me, you probably have some kind of scars on your face.  Luckily, you have options to reduce or eliminate the appearance of the scars.

Use lotions, creams or oils with Vitamin E or aloe vera.  These 2 ingredients help stimulate the production of new and healthy skin cells.

If you have severe facial scarring, your doctor may prescribe something more powerful to help your condition.  They can also recommend other types of procedures such as dermabrasion or collagen injections to minimize or get rid of your scars.

Dermabrasion is a procedure that removes the top or outer layer of the skin, allowing new, smooth and healthy skin cells from below to replace it.  This is particularly effective for raised scars.

Collagen injections promote the production of collagen.  Collagen is a protein that contributes to the skin’s elasticity, which keeps the skin flexible and younger looking.

Depending on the facial scarring you have, there are always many options to treat them.  The best way to find what works is to try.   One treatment may work for someone but not for you.  You might need to try several treatments before finding the best one that will reduce or eliminate your facial scars.

There is an essential oil used 5,000 years ago by the ancient Egyptians that can be used for scars treatment.  Traces of it were even found in King’s Tut tomb.

I’m talking about Frankincense.

Frankincense is one of the essential oils that can really calm and comfort the entire body and mind. It alleviates all the aches and pains, clears the lungs and works as a skin tonic that can treat scars.

Physical Properties

Frankincense is extracted from resin obtained from the Boswellia tree.  Deep incisions are made in the tree trunk and by slashing the bark.  Frankincense exudes as a milky juice and hardens on exposure with the air.  An oleo gum resin is the result.

The oil is then extracted via steam distilling the resin.

The oil has a pleasant woody, spicy, haunting smell – with a nice little touch of camphor.   It looks pale yellowish-greenish in color.

Usage

Frankincense oil has been used as an antiseptic, astringent, carminative, cicatrizing, digestive, diuretic, sedative, tonic, uterine, vulnerary and expectorant.

It is a favorite in aromatherapy used to aid digestion and keep healthy skin.  It has been used for hundreds of years for treating wounds, strengthening female hormone system and treating arthritis.

In ancient time, frankincense was generally used to make incense. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it to perfume their homes.  It was used in the first century as an antidote to hemlock poisoning.  In the tenth century, Iranians used it to cure vomiting, diarrhea, fever and tumors.  The Chinese still used it today to treat leprosy, gonorrhea and digestive ailments.

Frankincense was offered to the gods by the ancient Egyptians.  They also used it as a rejuvenating face mask and to fumigate the sick to banish evil spirits.  They grounded charred resin into a powder form called kohl. Kohl was used to draw the typical black eyeliner seen on figures in Egyptian art.

This essential oil has a wondrous calming effect on the mind.  It helps create inner peace.  It helps sooth the respiratory and urinary tract.  It relieves pain linked to rheumatism and muscle pain, and has a rejuvenating, balancing and healing action on the skin.

It is excellent to use when meditating. It helps calm anxiety.  It calms the mind to allow slowing and deepening breathing.

For the respiratory tract, it opens up and clears the lungs and helps with shortness of breath, asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis, coughs and colds.

For the Skin

Also, it is used to rejuvenate aging skin. It is used as a skin tonic.  It is effective with sores carbuncles, wounds, scars and skin inflammation.  For its many usages, it’s a great oil to apply to wounds and treat old scars.

Frankincense oil can be added to a base cream or lotion.  It will strengthen skin tone.  It will also reduce oily skin, rejuvenating skin while helping wounds to heal better.

As you can see, this oil can do wonder for the skin.  By toning the skin and helping wounds heal, its properties make it a great scar treatment natural remedy.

Scars treatment can virtually vanish the appearance of scars in just a matter of days.  Scar removal used to require surgeries or expensive procedures, which all had negative side effects.  Now, scars are treatable with different proven remedies and products found at the store or even at home.

While some scars will diminish with time, most scars will be left visible… but the appearance can be minimized if they are treated.

With a proper scar treatment procedure, nearly any scar can be faded – leaving only almost slightly unnoticeable remaining traces. The appearance of scars from the body can be minimized even if the scars have been there for years.

For example, here are some benefits with the proper scars treatment…

• Achieve the same results of expensive medical procedures at a small fraction of the cost
• Breaks down the tissues and restores the elasticity of the skin
• Maintains a healthy and glowing skin
• Reduces the redness and visibility of deep and long scars within days

Currently, there are products aimed specifically in reducing and minimizing the appearance of scars. Results for minimizing scar appearances are best when the scars are new. Older scars may take longer.

Even if a scar is still noticeable, there are various ways to minimize or conceal its appearance.

There are many scars treatment available.  Here are some treatments to get rid of scars of any types – burn scars, acne scars, keloid scars and surgery scars

• Treat new wounds to lessen the severity of scars. Keep wounds clean and covered to protect them from being infected. Infection will lead to form severe scars.  Apply antibiotic cream or ointment designed to reduce scars.  Avoid picking at scabs so it won’t mess with the healing process.  Protect the scar from the sun and keep moisturizing the scar once the wound has healed.
• Massaging the scar can help minimize scars and prevent the buildup of scar tissue.  Gentle massage will stimulate circulation to the scar and skin area.  It will help speed up the healing process and ensure good skin elasticity.  Gently rub moisturizer and vitamin E to scars.  Moisturizing the scar will keep it soft and smooth.
• Patches and cream can be used to treat older scars.  They are available at most drug stores.  They are worn over the scars and can take a few weeks to see results.
• Exfoliating, moisturizing and cleaning the skin will keep it healthy.  A healthy skin will heal faster and will look better.

Some scars will require something a bit more intrusive, like surgical scar removal, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, steroid injections or other medical procedure.  For that, a dermatologist or medical professional should be consulted for the right treatment and professional.

As you can see, scars treatment is a gradual process.  It takes time.  Some scars will take more time to minimize its appearance.  Severe scars like surgical scars will not go away but their appearance can be minimized.