Many people with scars want some way to reduce their appearance. Some people hide their scars under clothing or with cosmetics. A customized skin care solution from the Compounding Pharmacy of America can help minimize the appearance of scars without simply covering them up.
Our compounding pharmacy offers custom compounding services to people all over the country, and anyone that has skin care issues or is concerned about the appearance of scars should see what we have to offer.
Scars and Prevention
Scars are a completely natural part of the healing process, but many people are understandably self-conscious about their appearance. Scar tissue can form from burns, cuts and other wounds.
Many people who undergo surgical procedures will develop scar tissue at their incision sites. Medical technology has advanced to an amazing degree, and now many procedures are possible without large incisions. Even laparoscopic surgeries with tiny incision sites can still leave scars, however.
Scar tissue results from collagen production increases in the body after experiencing a wound. The body attempts to repair the injury site as quickly as possible. Since the healing tissue doesn’t contain all the usual elements of skin tissue, scars appear different than regular skin.
Some scars, even very large ones, are very hard to see due to their color, their locations on the body and the thickness of the skin in the area around the scar.
Types of Scars
Normal scars are usually small, flat and relatively thin.
Hypertrophic scars are raised above the skin, and are red and thick.
Finally, keloid scars are also raised and appear very much like hypertrophic scars, but they extend beyond the edges of the actual wound. Keloid scars have been connected to genetics and can be unpredictable.
Some people want to minimize the appearance of existing scars while others want to prevent scar formation after medical procedures. The Compounding Pharmacy of America can provide customized compounded scar medications for either scenario.
Scar Care
Deep wounds heal better with professional sutures. If you suffer a deep cut or another injury that is likely to form a scar, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Stitching a wound closed as soon as possible is one of the best ways to minimize the appearance of scars.
If a wound remains open too long, a doctor may decide to wait to stitch it closed to prevent infection. This is often the safer option, but this precaution is more likely to lead to a larger scar.
After stitching, patients should keep the wound moist using petroleum jelly and nonstick bandages. This will not only minimize scarring, but will also speed up the healing process and protect the wound from infection. Regularly massaging the wound with vitamin E may help minimize scarring as well, but bear in mind that there is no over-the-counter product scientifically proven to prevent or minimize scarring.
Avoiding sunlight is another good way to prevent scarring. Sun exposure will cause discoloration and the wound will have more difficulty healing.
Some people will need to regularly clean and redress their wounds. Try to keep hydrogen peroxide use to a minimum in this case. Using hydrogen peroxide is a great way to clean a fresh wound, but using it too often can irritate the injury site and impede the healing process.
Be patient with the healing process and do not pick scabs. A scab is the body’s way of naturally protecting a wound. If you pick off a scab repeatedly, the body will keep sending repair signals to the area and increase scarring.
Finding A Compounded Skin Care Solution
A simple, over-the-counter answer to scars may not be available. You can still secure an effective scar management medication from The Compounding Pharmacy, however.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions about compounded wound and scar management products, or check out our Scar Management Compounding Order Form to see the various skin care options we offer.
We have several skin care services available, including:
- Pain relief
- Debridement
- Wound closure
- Specialized keloid formulas.
Customers of The Compounding Pharmacy of America know they can rely on us for expertly compounded prescriptions, stellar customer service, and easy and convenient ordering. One of the best ways to prevent scarring is to treat the wound quickly, so don’t hesitate to reach out to The Compounding Pharmacy of America today.
Chief Operating Officer, The Compounding Pharmacy of America
Matthew Poteet, Pharm.D. graduated with Honors from Lee University with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Science. After his undergraduate training, he completed the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy, graduating in 2004. Dr. Poteet has spent much of his pharmacy career on staff at two of the most prestigious academic teaching hospitals in the Southeast; Emory University in Atlanta and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. At these institutions he received extensive experience and training in sterile products compounding.
He returned home to East Tennessee in 2010, where he has held the position of Pharmacy Director at two sterile products pharmacies in Knoxville. Matthew lives in Knoxville with his wife, Chris. Dr. Poteet is Tennessee’s first Board Certified Anti-Aging Pharmacist by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
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