When you have a scar, you want it to start fading as soon as possible. There are things you can do to speed up the process. Check out these things that can hasten the healing of scars, and these things that can slow it down.
We welcome you to read these helpful do’s and don’ts of scar healing.
What Slows Down Scar Healing?
Many conditions can slow down the rate of healing after injury, such as:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Low human growth hormone (HGH)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Zinc deficiency
- Vascular or arterial diseases
Diabetes in particular is a risk factor for slow healing, which can lead to open wounds for many months. This can result in fungal infections, bacterial infections and even gangrene.
Personal bad habits can also slow down scar healing, such as smoking and picking at scabs. Other factors that slow healing include:
- Vitamin deficiency
- Lack of sleep
- Excessive water submersion
- Illnesses such as Lyme disease and cancer
What Speeds Up Scar Healing?
On the other side of the coin, there are many things that can speed up the process of scar healing, such as:
- Getting plenty of sleep: Research says that when you get more sleep, your wounds heal faster. In essence, sleep restriction results in higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which delays healing time by at least a day as opposed to people who got enough rest. You should always employ a healthy sleeping routine but especially after an injury so you can ensure speedier scar recovery.
- Eating well: Nutritional supplements have been found to boost the immune response. Pair that with sufficient sleep and you hit the jackpot. Eat lots of fruits and veggies to fuel your body and speed up the wound healing process. Look for foods high in nutrients and vitamins, such as vitamin A, copper, and zinc, as well as baby spinach, kale, Swiss chard, ginger, mushrooms, yogurt and beets — all proven to speed up the healing process.
- Staying physically fit: Follow a regular exercise plan. It doesn’t have to be high in intensity or involve running many miles a day. Just enough to get your heart pumping. Even moderate exercise such as walking is great, as it increases blood flow to the wound and helps it heal faster.
- Not smoking: Did you know that smoking cigarettes slows down the healing process? That’s because it boosts the risk of complications such as infections.
- Keeping the wound clean: Clean your wound every day and change the dressing until it heals over. Moisturize a lot, too.
- Using Scarfade: Silicone scar gels are proven to hasten the healing process. Apply it twice a day and you’ll see a difference in just weeks.
In the meantime, check out these helpful resources on the benefits of Scarfade.