Scars in 10 questions

Operations, accidents or diseases sometimes leave ugly marks on the skin. Good healing often depends on the age, the origin of the wound, genetics and even food.

Whatever the origin of the scar, solutions exist to blur it.

1. What is healing?

The skin isolates and protects the body from the outdoor environment. When a wound occurs following trauma, illness or surgery, the body naturally starts a biological phenomenon: healing.

“After an injury, the blood vessels will contract, explains Professor Michel de la Brassinne, specialized in dermatology. Platelets (elements of blood participating in coagulation) then try to plug the hole ‘. This is played in a few minutes. Then, for several days, white blood cells are attracted on the spot, new vessels are recreated and new fibers are formed in the dermal. There will be a reshuffle of the dermis which is counted in months, or even in years: the creation of new connective tissues balances the destruction of old tissues.

The most important thing is to clean the skin with soap and soap and remove any debris (stones, sand, dust, etc.) which would be at the wound if one is in the case of an injury. It is of course advisable to disinfect the area with an antiseptic liquid.

For simple wounds, no need to apply a dressing. “The injury can stay in the open air,” recalls Professor Michel de la Brassinne. When a crust forms, avoid scratching: this simple gesture can alter the healing process. The crust will fall when the skin is ready.

3. Do we heal the same way?

The color of our skin influences our way of healing. But other factors are taken into account: age, for example. Children easily heal while teenagers tend to “too” heal (hypertrophic scars), probably due to hormonal factors. On the contrary, the elderly will tend to heal “too little” (atrophic scars). In addition, certain metabolic diseases such as diabetes harm healing, in particular because they induce less good blood circulation.

4. What is a cheloid?

A cheloid scar is a hypertrophic, inflammatory, hard and puffed scar, caused by an overproduction of collagen during the repair of the connective tissue: a form of unsightly, sometimes painful or causing itching. “Chélooid scars are mainly present in people with black skin and, to a lesser extent, in people of Asian origin”, explains the specialist. These scars can sometimes be treated with corticosteroid creams.

5. Body areas that heal less well?

The thorax, back and joints (knees, elbows, etc.), because the skin is more stretched there (especially during movements) than on the rest of the body. In addition, the less the wound is clear, it will no longer heal. An injury caused by a fall or an accident will often leave more traces than a knife cut or a small surgical incision.

6. Food influences healing?

“Vitamin A, C, zinc and calcium are essential elements in the healing process”, explains Professor Michel de la Brassinne. A possible deficiency can delay healing. On a daily basis, a balanced diet contributes to good healing, whether it is a scratch or a complex wound.

7. Can we alleviate unsightly scars?

In most cases, yes! “A lot of progress has been made, both in the field of microsurgery and laser, which are sometimes associated,” comments the specialist. Different lasers are used in dermatology, depending on the objective to be achieved. These treatments generally require several sessions and can, at first, leave visible traces on the skin and be accompanied by some care, generally minor.

8. Is the scars correction reimbursed?

When a traumatic, infectious or surgical scar must be resumed, this intervention falls under corrective surgery: it is reimbursed. On the other hand, when it comes to reducing acne scars for example, the intervention is considered aesthetic and therefore not reimbursed. Depending on the type and extent of the correction to be made, the cost is very variable. ‘It is important to learn, both on the total cost and the risks and the benefits that can be expected from the intervention,’ insists Professor Michel de la Brassinne.

Indeed, if the current techniques make it possible to alleviate the scars, the result is not always perfect. It is important to weigh the pros and cons without nourishing disproportionate expectations.

9. Does a point of beauty remove a scar?

“It all depends on the type of lesion: a melanoma is a serious malignant tumor which requires immediate excision, an in the process of transformation must also be excised quickly. The beauty points are only removed for aesthetic reasons. As for the scars, they depend on the type of skin, the location and the dimension of the lesion”.

In some cases, it is sometimes advised after the intervention to place a self-adhesive silicone dressing which makes it possible to soften the healing and to partially prevent the formation of chéloid. In the event of sun exposure, the scar must be protected by means of a total screen: red, it may pigment under the effect of UV, a phenomenon which is only reversible after several years.

10 Should we fear the scar after a cesarean?

The cesarean still leaves a horizontal scar, 10 to 15cm above the pubis. “The techniques have improved, and in general, the surgeons are more aware of the question of the skin traces left by the interventions. The time when we left an inexperienced young assistant to suture the skin is behind us,” comments Michel de la Brassinne.

After childbirth, the scar massage contributes to soften the skin and prevent the scar from hardens. In the first months, the skin around the scar is often a little swollen. After a year or two, it is completely absorbed to leave only a simple lighter line, sometimes hidden by the pubic fleece.

Text: Julie Luong

Recipes, fashion, decor, sex, astro: follow our news on Facebook and Instagram. Excluded: our latest items via email.