Thread: Preventing scars

I splattered very hot oil over my arm in a cooking accident, which left me with burns. The skin over the blisters did not stay on (some had broken from contact, and then I used New Skin to prevent infection on a backpacking trip which added to that). By now (a week later), it is dry, seems to be healing OK and I am good about not scratching, but the main damage is not all that small, which makes me worried about scarring. Anything I can do to minimize that? I keep it out of the sun, of course.

Neosporin is a great scar reducer.

Hey SteffiB, there is an ointment called Binafine(I think) that my mom used after radiation therapy and my derm. gave me some also(for acne scar), it keeps the area very moist, even more so than a neosporin ointment,and speeds healing, but it is presciption so I don't know if you want to go to the trouble of seeing a dermatologist, if not using neosporin or any antibiotic ointment is a very good idea, you want to keep burns as moist as possible while healing to lesson scarring.

My Mom burned herself very badly in a kitchen accident (oil unattended had caught fire, she tried to extinguish it) on her lower legs and feet when I was a kid.

It was very severe burns, with that sterile aluminium cover to exchange every day.
A dermataologist gave her a cream to apply once the wound was not open any more he promised this would prevent scars as far as possible.

It is called Contractubex if I am not wrong. I can check if you want.

It was fantastic - despite these severe burns, my Mom did not get scars! Apparently this can also have some effect on old scars, rendering them less visible, but the best results are feasible if the treatment is begun as soon as possible after the injury!

arnica cream to speed healing & keep skin supple, poplar balm for soothing & honey for open wounds- nice antimicrobial as well as speeding healing. Works well for me! Unfortunately, I tend to wound myself rather a lot.

Aloe Vera gel, works great for me.
try to find the 100% stuff, or squeee the gel from a leave of the Aloe Vera barbadensis plant.

I love the natural stuff for minor issues.. however to be honest when I face scars I would not mind using pharmaceuticals.. but of course if people stay with the all natural that is admirable :)

Originally Posted by dinavienna

I love the natural stuff for minor issues.. however to be honest when I face scars I would not mind using pharmaceuticals.. but of course if people stay with the all natural that is admirable :)

I sound so green & natural... but it really comes down to what I have found to work for specific issues. Not remotely opposed to pharmaceuticals when needed, but I like knowing all the options out there & have had enough major cuts & burns that I've had time to try a few things out. I can't even blame it on being an Alaska wilderness girl- I can split firewood & help process a moose with no injury but I just gave myself a gaping wound with the broken cap of a permanent marker. Wooo.

Thanks for all advice! Fortunately, my accident didn't send me to the ER, even though my husband was ready to load me in the car - I know wilderness first aid, and my default strategy is to take ibuprofen, prevent infection and keep myself hydrated. I will try neosporin on the main burns and see how it reacts.

The biggest burn is *exactly* where my right arm rests on the laptop, and I can't really do much w/ my wrists (zills are uncomfortable), which drives me nuts, I have to twist my arm to bhuz ;-)

I am an organic, health-food-store sympathizer, so if I can get away with low-impact strategies, I will give it a shot.

lara - wow! so you're the one with more experience ;)

I guess it depends on how deep the damage is.

lavender oil is reported to be very good but I've not tried it for those burns.

Other natural suggestions would be Rose Hip / Argan oil

I've got a jar of treat bruise, reduce swelling, minimise scar, reduce inflammation, skin healing - Home but not had to try it for burns. I used if for eczema.

Originally Posted by dinavienna

lara - wow! so you're the one with more experience ;)

yeah, um- who knew being a klutz for life would give me 'expertise' in anything ..g.:

Mederma Skin Care for Scars & Scarring | Mederma.com

I used the above after foot surgery and loved it. Also have used a carrier oil or cocoa butter with lavender essential oil and vitamin E in in it.

my mom was big on the all natural plant healing. i always made fun of her for that until i grew up and started injuring myself like the big girl i thought i was.

as great and convenient as it is to pop a pill and be assured by a doctor or pharmacist that the stuff is going to work, the natural folk stuff is usually what ends up healing me.

I got a really bad kitchen burn on my arm this past year. on one part that was more burned i used aloe vera straight from the plant. i used a cream (forget the name) on the part that was less burned. guess which scar is lighter?

i would have to say aloe vera all the way for burns. just pop the plant open and put it on the wound. wrap your arm with gauze. i would change the aloe as soon as it starts to itch or feel too slimy or too dry.

hi zobeida,

where do you buy the entire plant?
May I ask what else oyu use it for? some people drink some it I think?
Do you put it on your hair or something similar?
Would love advice :)

i've seen aloe vera sold at flower shops. if you have a particularly favorite flower shop, be sure to ask them because they are more familiar with your area.

I only use aloe for burns and rashes. my mother used it for absolutely everything. she had five or six different kinds of aloe plants. she had very bad gum and teeth problems and whenever her gums would get inflamed, she would stick some aloe on it and go to sleep. everything would be better in the morning. i did that a couple of times and while it did help me with toothache, the bitter taste of it drove me bananas. she would also put aloe on an eye infection. apparently it has great antibacterial value.

i know there is an aloe drink out there. i tasted it and wasn't impressed, rather disgusted. besides that, i don't think there are great medicinal purposes to a drink that is bright green.

Originally Posted by dinavienna

hi zobeida,

where do you buy the entire plant?
May I ask what else oyu use it for? some people drink some it I think?
Do you put it on your hair or something similar?
Would love advice :)

I know of some long hair forum ladies who use natural aloe as a hair gel.

thanks for confirming this works :) I read that in a magazine years ago but since I could not imagine getting the plant somewhere.. just let go of the idea :)
hmm if someone has specific instructions and cares to share! :)

Vitamin E oil, Curell (also good for healing tattoos), and/or lavender oil, neat (undiluted). Though I think the lavender oil would have best been used when you first incurred the injury.

Originally Posted by Zobeida

i've seen aloe vera sold at flower shops. if you have a particularly favorite flower shop, be sure to ask them because they are more familiar with your area.

I only use aloe for burns and rashes. my mother used it for absolutely everything. she had five or six different kinds of aloe plants. she had very bad gum and teeth problems and whenever her gums would get inflamed, she would stick some aloe on it and go to sleep. everything would be better in the morning. i did that a couple of times and while it did help me with toothache, the bitter taste of it drove me bananas. she would also put aloe on an eye infection. apparently it has great antibacterial value.

i know there is an aloe drink out there. i tasted it and wasn't impressed, rather disgusted. besides that, i don't think there are great medicinal purposes to a drink that is bright green.

I second the aloe for gum issues (& burns- can't believe I forgot to put it on the list before!) unfortunately my daughter is allergic to aloe, so we got rid of our plants & don't use it as much any more.