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To remove the scar from the skin, increasing its flexibility, you can massage or resort to aesthetic treatments, with the use of devices that can be performed by the dermatologist or dermatofunctional physiotherapist.
Small scars caused by chicken pox, a cut on the skin or minor surgery are easier to resolve, but it is also possible to improve the appearance of larger or older scars.
1. Massage to remove the scar
What you can do at home to loosen the scar adhesion is to massage the area with a little bit of almond oil or rosehip, for example, with circular movements, from side to side, up and down, pressing the skin in the opposite direction and also in the same direction. Scissor movement can also be performed, which consists of displacing the scar in opposite directions.
This massage can be performed twice a week but it should not cause pain, because the goal is not to reopen the scar. However, it is normal for the area to become a little red after the massage. Every day it should be possible to observe that the scar is more malleable, looser and more elastic.
2. Aesthetic treatments
The best equipment is ultrasound and radiofrequency, but treatments with carboxitherapy, microneedling or subcision surgery can also be used. Equipment such as lasers are also good options for removing redness, while injections of corticosteroids on top of the scar or botox around it.
When the scar is already old and is stuck to the skin, it is not always possible to loosen the points of fibrosis with massage, being necessary to resort to treatments with the use of heat to increase the flexibility of the collagen.
The dermatologist or dermatofunctional physiotherapist will evaluate the scar, its height, color, shape and how much it is adhered to, indicating the necessary treatment time, which may vary from one person to another. However, the most common is that at least 10 sessions of dermatofunctional physiotherapy are required to leave the scar thin and the same color as the skin.
3. Ointments and creams
Some ointments and creams may be indicated during the healing period and should be used in accordance with medical advice to promote the regeneration of fibers and favor the formation of type 1 collagen, preventing the formation of adhesions.
In addition, the use of corticosteroid creams may also be recommended by the dermatologist to prevent the scar from becoming high and to promote correct healing.
Because the scar is glued
Scarring is when the tissue under and around the scar is glued, which prevents it from moving from side to side.This is because during healing the body produces a lot of collagen and fibrotic tissues in a disordered way, creating adhesions.
The scar tissue is slightly different from the rest of the skin. The skin tissue is mainly formed by type 1 collagen which is more flexible, while the scar is formed by type 3 collagen, which is harder and, therefore, there is the favoring of the formation of fibrosis, which results from a disorderly growth of these fibers in the skin layers.
How to prevent the scar from sticking
To prevent the scar from sticking, it is important to take some precautions during the healing process, and it may be indicated to massage the scar site and perform lymphatic drainage, for example, as it is thus possible to favor the organized regeneration of the fibers.
So, as soon as the stitches are removed, if you notice that the scar is tightly closed, it is recommended to moisturize your skin with moisturizing cream and you can do a massage as follows:
- Place the index and middle fingers around the scar, and bring them together which will join the scar edges, avoiding its opening;
- Next, this 'forceps' must be kept, holding the scar;
- Move the skin and muscle from side to side, along the entire length of the scar.
In a physiotherapy clinic, a treatment with red light can be performed, which helps the healing of tissues in an orderly manner, because the collagen fibers follow exactly the direction of the light, promoting a more organized tissue, thus preventing the formation of fibrosis, which is when the scar is glued.
See how to do this massage and other important cares by watching the following video: