What happens if I don't massage my scar?

Do not massage until your incision has fully healed and is a scar (not just a wound or scab). If you massage your scar prematurely you could cause it to reopen or tear, leading to an infection.

Do I need to massage my scar?

Massaging your scars is important. It keeps the tissue around the incision loose so it doesn't “stick” to the tissue underneath. Wait until after your skin has healed before you start massaging your scar. Your skin will be healed when the edges of the scar are well closed with no gaps, and have no drainage.

Does massaging scar help it go away?

Scar massage is an effective way to decrease scar tissue build up and help make scars less noticeable. Massage will not help soften a scar more than two years old.

How often should you massage your scar?

When massaging, try to apply enough pressure that the scar area lightens in color or turns white. This should be done two to three times daily for about ten minutes each time. While your scar is healing, you should avoid sun exposure in that area as much as possible.

Can massaging a scar make it worse?

If a patient massages their scar prematurely it could cause the wound to tear or reopen, risking an infection. It's therefore important to advise them to not begin massaging until the wound is fully healed.

We Don’t Break Up Scar Tissue

Does massage break up scar tissue?

Can massage break down scar tissue? Yes. the body does not know how to arrange collagen cells after surgery or injury, causing them to clump together and lose their natural structure. Massage breaks them down and helps align the collagen fibers.

How long does it take for surgical scars to flatten?

In time, some collagen breaks down at the site of the wound and the blood supply reduces. The scar gradually becomes smoother and softer. Although scars are permanent, they can fade over a period of up to 2 years. It's unlikely they'll fade any more after this time.

How do you tell if a scar is still healing?

Stage 4: Maturation (strengthening) Even after your wound looks closed and repaired, it's still healing. It might look pink and stretched or puckered. You may feel itching or tightness over the area.

How do you make scars worse?

How do you massage scar tissue to break up?

Switch it up by massaging counter-clockwise. This will help to drain excess fluid from the area. Next, stretch the skin apart around your scar, and repeat your massaging with a firm circular motion using your thumb or finger. With pressure, slowly slide your finger up the scar while apply pressure.

Do scars grow with you?

Raised (hypertrophic): You can feel a hypertrophic scar when you run your finger over it. These raised scars may get smaller over time, but they never completely flatten out. Unlike keloids, they don't grow or spread beyond the wounded area.

How long does scar tissue stay hard?

Initially, the scarring may look minimal, but over 4–6 weeks, the scar may get bigger or become raised, firm, and thick. Over the next 2–3 months, the scar will become smaller and blend in more with the person's skin tone.

How can I flatten my scars?

Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy uses extreme cold (liquid nitrogen) to freeze and slowly destroy scar tissue, which helps flatten the raised tissue. This treatment may be combined with the other injection treatment options to further reduce the scar.

How do you soften scars?

You can use any type of over-the-counter cream such as Vaseline, cocoa butter or hand lotion for this. The tissue should be massaged in the direction of the scar for ten minutes twice a day. This is useful for 3-6 months or for as long as it seems to be helping.

How long does it take for a scar to turn white?

Scars take time to settle. The lumpiness, puckering and thickening in the scar take 2-3 months to diminish, whilst the redness and pigmentation can take up to 9-12 months to fade. Most scars become flat and pale after 12 months.

What makes a scar bigger?

Excessive pulling or tension across a healing wound is increasingly implicated as a factor which may increase inflammation and scar formation. An environmental factor that clearly has an effect on the appearance on skin scarring is sunlight exposure.

How long does it take for a scar to look better?

Once there is a scar, it is forever. Generally, it will blend into the normal skin creases so that it is hardly noticeable. Most scars reach this point six months after surgery. It can take up to two years for some severe scars to fully develop.

What causes scars to turn dark?

New scars are exceptionally vulnerable to hyperpigmentation from unprotected sun exposure. This has to do with the way the melanin in your skin responds to UV rays, which is usually to darken the natural pigment of the skin.

How long does a scar stay pink?

Treated skin often stays pink for a few weeks or months. Your dermatologist will advise you on how many treatments are needed. If your scars are minor, you will likely need just one or a few treatments. For larger or major scars, such as deep acne or surgical scars, you will likely need at least a few treatments.

Do scars get thinner over time?

Scars shrink and become less noticeable as they age. You may be able to wait to have surgery until the scar lightens in color. This can be several months or even a year after the wound has healed. For some scars, it is best to have revision surgery 60 to 90 days after the scar matures or longer.

Why is my scar puckered?

When the skin is scarred down to deeper tissues the scar may be pulled in giving a puckered appearance. This may be because a wound healed this way or because the deep layers were not repaired. This is often seen with abdominal scars such as caesarian section scars.

How do you massage a scar?

To perform scar massage, you want to use the pad of your thumb or fingers directly on the scar and begin by rubbing in a circular matter. You want to be sure to give enough pressure to move the scar and skin, not just rub your fingers on top of the scar.

When should I start massaging my c section scar?

How to do the massages. Begin about 6 weeks after surgery, as long as incision is well healed. This can be done on your own, at home, for 5 minutes/day. Place fingers 2-3 inches from scar.

How do you loosen scar tissue?

Scar Massage: Apply a small amount of lotion or Vitamin E oil to the scar. Using firm pressure with your thumb or fingers, massage the scar in a circular motion. Next move your thumb across the width and length of the scar. This should not be painful, but may be slightly uncomfortable at first.

Why is my scar puffy?

Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids

This is called a hypertrophic scar. Sometimes scar tissue grows over the boundaries of the original wound, creating a puffy, round protrusion called a keloid. Hypertrophic scars and keloids may be itchy, tender, or painful.