4 Tips For Reducing The Appearance Of Burn Scars
Posted on: 20 September 2016
Getting burned can be an extremely painful experience, no matter how minor the burns might be. Along with the pain, however, you might have other concerns as well, such as about whether or not you will have scars. Luckily, there are a few steps that you can take to help reduce the appearance of burn scars.
1. Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
First of all, you should make sure that you seek medical treatment for any burns as quickly as possible after they happen. Even burns that seem minor can be serious and can leave behind severe scarring, but ensuring that your burns are treated properly by a professional who has experience in burn treatment can help. Plus, a doctor can also help you with the pain.
2. Keep Your Scar Moisturized
Once your scar has started to heal, making sure that you keep the affected area properly moisturized can assist with the healing process. A good-quality lotion can work well, or you can use vitamin E oil. Your doctor or dermatologist can also give you recommendations for which moisturizers to use to best assist in healing and scar prevention. Generally, you will not want to apply moisturizer to an open wound, so you will typically have to wait until the scar has started to heal, unless your doctor recommends that you use a moisturizing cream beforehand.
3. Apply Sunscreen
Many people do not realize it, but the sun's UV rays can cause your scar to become darker. This is why it is extremely important to use sunscreen on the affected area any time that you are going to be out in the sun. Wearing clothing that will cover up your scar, such as a longsleeve shirt if you were burned on your arm, can also help protect the area from the sun.
4. Meet with a Plastic Surgeon
After your wound has healed completely, you can visit with a plastic surgeon to look into plastic surgery options. For example, skin grafting might be an option to help remove the scar. This can be a good option for removing some of the insecurities that can go along with having burn scars.
Suffering from a burn can be a terrible experience, and you may not want to be reminded of the experience with scars. Luckily, you do have options for reducing the appearance of burn scars, so give these options a try if you are concerned about scarring. Contact an urgent care clinic like Premier Urgent Care Centers of California, Inc. for more information.
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