A scar, like a diamond, is forever. The latest figures show more than half the adult UK population carries at least one legacy of a brush with surgery, accident or disease. How bad a scar you get depends on the wound's depth and the nature of your skin, but there are ways to minimise the effect.
A study by the Scar Information Service suggests that although most of us come to accept our blemishes, up to 2.5 million people try to disguise or improve them.
'Some people can have a strong emotional reaction not directly related to the size or scale of their scar,' explains Dr Patricia Price, a psychologist at the Wound Healing Research Institute at the University of Wales in Cardiff. 'If you gain a scar while you're in a loving relationship, it might not be such a problem,' she says. 'But if the relationship breaks up, it may become a factor in new social contact which can create a barrier.'
Surgery accounts for 37 per cent of scars, so what can you do to minimise the toll of an operation? A careful surgeon helps. But consultant plastic surgeon Ruth Waters, of Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital, also suggests moisturisers and massage. 'A scarred area does not produce moisture like normal skin so we recommend regular massage with emolients.' Tradition has it that vitamin E oil or cream works especially well but there's no real evidence to show it is any better than other products, she adds
Protecting scars from the sun can help, too, as can rest. 'In the healing phase, certain areas should not be moved or stretched.'
Nutrition plays a big role in healing, says dietician Susan Price from Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. 'In the run-up to surgery people should eat a broad range of vitamins and minerals and enough protein and calories.' Vitamin C is essential, along with vitamins A, B and zinc.
Midwives have long sworn by the herbal remedy arnica to reduce postnatal swelling and bruising. Worcestershire homeopath Cath Yie describes it as a 'total support package, strengthening the heart and blood and preventing haemorrhage'.
For surgical scarring and internal damage, she recommends calendula cream, tablets or tincture. 'It rapidly heals granulated tissue and combats infection.' In very sensitive areas, hypericum (St John's Wort) can ease painful scarring, she adds. The homeopathic remedies Calc Fluor and graphites can reduce thickening and may be good long-term bets for breaking down lumpy tissue.
Trudy Norris of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, points to herbs including marigold, hypericum, German camomile, comfrey, aloe vera, tea tree and witch hazel which, when used in conjunction with creams and poultices, can promote tissue repair and diminish existing scars.
Clinical advances for severe scarring include dermabrasion, which removes the surface of damaged skin; laser treatments, which can improve blood supply or vaporise unsightly tissue; and steroid injections to soften and flatten damaged areas.
Silicone-based gel sheets claim to bring drastic improvements in the appearance of scars by moisturising the scar area. Manufacturers claim a reductions in size and redness, as well as improved elasticity after two to four months.
Dr Waters acknowledges their benefits, but remains wary about general reliance. Seek medical opinion first, she advises.
Scar Information Service: 0845 120 0022. National Institute of Medical Herbalists: 01392 426 022.
