Scar formation is part and parcel of a human body's healing process. Scars are proof that the wound has healed naturally and the skin has repaired itself. The natural protein of the body forms new collagen fibers, which result in scars. Some scars are formed due to a surgical wound, while some are a result of an injury or accident. Whatever the reason be, scar formation plays an integral part in wound healing.
Stages of Wound Healing
There are four major stages of wound healing -
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Scabs
Blood clotting starts at the earliest stages of healing. The cut or laceration begins to form a scab if the bleeding does not stop even after a prolonged period. Your wound may require advanced care and treatment. A scab typically takes a few weeks to fall off, oftentimes, scabs cause itching and irritation to the skin resulting in falling off of the dried and hardened skin.
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Swellings
Swelling helps in cleansing and disinfecting the wound area. These also aid in the delivery of nutrients, proteins, and vitamins to the wound site. The redness, swelling, or tenderness may occur as the blood vessels expand to facilitate the blood flow. Typically, the swelling subsides within a week. If not so, it is time to seek medical help.
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New Tissue Growth
Once the swelling subsides, the process of new tissue formation begins. You should see new skin forming on the wound surface as the wound shrinks smaller and smaller. The process takes up to 3-4 weeks. These new tissues are shiny in appearance, there are budding blood vessels around the wound site which lead to the spotting of redness during the process of skin generation.
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Scar Formation
The scarring largely depends on the severity of the wound. The scar can potentially last for a few months or maybe years. The scar formed has tougher skin. Some wound care products help fade and flatten the hypertrophic and keloidal scars. One such product is Spenco 2nd Skin Scar Gel, a colorless, flexible, and non-sticky gel therapy opined to treat red and raised scars effectively, resulting from burns, accidents, or surgery.
Five Tips for Quicker Wound Healing
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Let Scars Be
Scars are natural, and their complete alteration is next to impossible. However, they are manageable. One can easily minimize the scarring with the proper use of the right products. The Molnlycke Mepiform Safetac Self-Adherent Soft Silicone Dressing is designed for the management of hypertrophic and keloid scars. Subsequently, topical silicone has historically been shown to have a positive impact on hypertrophic and keloid scars. The effectiveness of the dressing largely depends on the condition of the scar tissue. The scar relief process may take as long as three months or a year to improve old scars.
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Wick the Moisture Out
Moisture is crucial for adequate wound healing, howbeit too much wetness can lead to yeast and fungal growth around the wound bed. The Calmoseptine Moisture Barrier Ointment is a multipurpose moisture barrier skin wound healing ointment that temporarily relieves discomfort and itching. The Calmoseptine Cream acts as a barrier to keep the skin at bay from excessive moisture, reducing the chances of skin irritation.
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Pay Heed to the Dressing
Right wound dressing augments the wound healing to a great extent. Each wound type requires a different wound dressing, and therefore it is essential to understand which dressing will work the best for a specific wound. A macerated wound will entail applying wound dressings that aid in the enhancement of the moisture vapor transmission. A wound foam dressing that Medtronic Covidien Kendall Ultra-Soft Foam Wound Dressing is a super absorbent hydrophilic foam dressing that protects and cushions wounds. The Top-sheet material with small pores decreases the chance of tissue migration into the foam dressing.
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Wound Healing and Skincare
An uncleaned wound serves as the hotbed for infection-causing bacteria. Thence, a wound shall never be left uncleaned. The use of a good wound cleanser protects the skin from potential skin problems. Well-structured routine skincare after wound healing is the key to healthy and scar-free skin.
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Experts Advice
Proper treatment is quintessential to expedite wound healing. Therefore, one must take adequate measures and regular advice from an expert at every stage of wound healing. Wound healing takes a minimum of six weeks. You can ask your physician for specialized wound care to improve the pace of your healing process.
At Shop Wound Care, we have a premium range of skincare products for helping you keep your skin free from infections and conditions and ensuring that it stays healthy and glistening.
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