We all experience skin damage from time to time as result of an accident, surgery or various skin conditions. These cuts, wounds, burns or other inflammatory ailments will more often than not result in scarring- since that is a natural part of the healing process. Your body works hard to reconstruct your cells, and when skin tissue is damaged it causes a protein called collagen to be produced. Collagen builds up where the tissue is injured, helping to rejuvenate and strengthen wounds. There are several important tips to keep in mind when treating a wound or young scar, in order to avoid long term damage.

5 Tips to take care of a young scar

1. Keep your wound clean all the time

Always keep damaged skin and open wounds clean. Gently wash the wound with water or mild soap to remove germs and debris. It is important that you wash your cut/wound/damaged skin area from the center towards the outer edges of the given area in order to avoid pushing germs and bacteria back towards the open wound.

2. drink a lot of water

You need proper hydration for your body in order to ensure faster healing. You should prioritize to drink plenty of fluids (water is highly suggested) every day, your wound will have a better chance of healing quicker.

3. don't pick AT it

Try to avoid scratching or touching your wound/young scar. Irritating it and touching it with your hands full of germs will slow down the healing process.

4. change your bandage regularly

In order to keep the skin area clean change your bandage regularly. If you have a sensitive skin, try a non-adhesive bandage with paper tape. If you decide to use hydrogel sheets, follow the instructions on the package to see how to change the covering.

5. avoid sun exposure

When you have a young scar, try not to expose it directly to the sun. If you must be outdoor, cover it and/or use sunblock. Sun protection may help reduce red or brown discoloration and help the scar fade faster. Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply frequently.

In the illustration below you can read about the four stages of wound healing. Depending on the size and depth of the wound/cut or skin damage the time of healing will vary based on how much you keep the key rules of taking care of your skin. There are obviously other health conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes that can slow down the recovery process. 

To summarize this blog post it is essential to mention: if you are in pain and you have severe injury, seek medical help immediately. If you have minor cuts, wounds, skin damages and you are worried about the appearance of scars afterwards, you can help reduce the chance of scarring by paying attention to the above mentioned few easy tips.