How to improve the appearance of scars

When I suffered a car crash in the 1980s I was left with a prominent and rather unattractive scar on my arm, due to it being stitched in A&E by a nurse who had worked rather too long hours and seeing I suspect too many car accidents. What I wish had been available in time is a new product that came across my desk this week to help prevent, improve and reduce scarring.

Lily-C™ Silicone Scar Therapy wrap moulds to the natural curves of the body, helping to reduce redness and relieve the itching and discomfort associated with wounds. Used properly the manufacturers claim that it will soften, flatten and dramatically improve the appearance of your scar. Scarring can occur from many causes; whether they are post operative, accidental or a sports injury but they can all cause not just physical but emotional suffering as well.

Anything that can reduce that impact has got to be worth looking at and silicone scar therapy is clinically proven in the prevention, improvement and reduction of scarring. The silicone provides a protective barrier which occludes and hydrates skin helping to encourage its natural healing properties.

This product was originally designed for women who had had a Caesarean, but it was then realised that it could be used on all scars. It consists of a skin like layer of silicone measuring 5cms x 22cms and has an adhesive free lining allowing it to gently adhere to the skin without the use of irritating adhesives or additional taping. One additional benefit is that it also comes with a special LilyWash™ that is designed to gently cleanse Lily-C™ and renew the tacky lining allowing it to be used over and over again.

LilyPadz Lily-C Silicone Scar Therapy has a RRP of £34.99 and is available from Boots. If you have any difficulty, please visit the website at www.simplylily.co.uk or you can telephone the company on 01753 202330.

Natural help to heal scars

As someone who has been naturally careless since childhood, I have obtained a number of small scars, not least from my propensity to iron over my hands instead of the garment and despite the longest oven gloves on the planet I can still manage to burn myself getting things out of the oven, so I have investigated natural remedies for some time. Recently I was talking to a client and the subject came up, and as I passed on what had worked for me I realized it might also be helpful for you too – so here goes.

Obviously scars will heal and diminish over time, but you can take action by using the following natural remedies to minimize them:

ACE is the combination nutrition supplement you need first, as vitamin A is essential to maintain healthy skin, collagen is vital for your skin and comes from an adequate supply of vitamin C, and to reduce inflammation and reduce your risk of scarring you can’t do better than vitamin E. Some people take this as a separate supplement and squeeze the oil out directly onto the skin.

Raw, organic honey – such as Manuka – applied directly to the skin will moisturise and its antibacterial qualities help heal scarring.

If you have an aloe vera plant you can cut the tip of a leaf and smooth the liquid gel directly onto cuts and burns to soothe and minimise scarring.

Herbal help comes from lavender oil and comfrey to promote healing and comfrey to help stop scar tissue forming.