Waiting for a wound to heal can take what feels like an eternity. And just when you think you're almost there, you might develop a new scab or notice redness and inflammation around the area.
It can be tempting to go ahead and apply a scar cream before a wound is completely healed. After all, a little prevention goes a long way, right?
Not so fast. A healing wound is vulnerable to infection, and infection is the enemy of scar prevention. Here's why you need to avoid active scar cream ingredients until your wound is completely healed—and what you can do while you wait out the healing process.
Scar Prevention: Healing Matters
Your body doesn't begin filling in the scar with collagen until the wound is completely healed. That means anything you do to try to remove the scar before it forms is wasted effort.
Instead, your goal should be to prevent the area from becoming infected, dry, or inflamed before you begin looking after your scars. Infected skin takes longer to heal, and dry skin heals more slowly.
If you want to heal a scab quickly don't pick at it! Inflammation due to scab-picking is also problematic, since your skin can become infected. The act of picking may further damage the dermis, forcing your skin to spend more time and energy healing.
What to Use Instead of Scar Cream
The fact that you can't use scar cream yet doesn't mean you're helpless to prevent scars. Keeping the scar moist, without introducing skin irritants, can speed the healing process and reduce the risk of scars.
Try Alpha-H Vitamin E 25ml for skin-friendly, hypoallergenic moisture. Wait until a scab forms to apply any product, though, since introducing anything directly into an open wound can increase the risk of infection.
When the scab falls and the wound closes, a red or white mark may be left behind. It's still too early to apply scar cream, since the skin is just beginning to heal.
