Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

scar on daughter's forehead...should have been stitched and not glued!

65 replies

nectarini1983 · 13/04/2014 18:36

Hi there

I suppose im just hoping (optimistically) for some reassurance...?

My 4 year old daughter split her forehead open at preschool back in December. I took her to a and e when a nurse practitioner glued it bk together, said to leave the buterfky stitches on for 3-4 days and that it wouldn't scar.

I left stitches on on for over a week. Anyway, 4 months on and it definitely has scarred, bless her. And its riht in the middle of her forehead. The scar is also quite wide and not in a neat line its like its spread open. Its still quite red and noticeable.

I just wonder if anyone else has had this with their little ones and can reassure me that it will fade and lighten in time. As at the moment Im just wishing id insisted on it being stitched by a doctor!

One guilt ridden mother.

Thanks.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
TheCunnyFuntIsGettingMarried · 13/04/2014 20:33

My DP had a serious accident at work last August, he ended up with a horrible scar right across his chest. His physiotherapist recommended silicon gel, so DP went to his GP to ask for some. The GP had to actually research it before he could prescribe it as he'd never heard of it before. The gel is called 'Scarsil' and it's bloody fantastic. The younger the person is that uses it, the more effective it is apparently and DP is 24, his scar has faded quite a lot, it was very red and now it's pink.

I'd go to your GP and ask her to be prescribed silicon gel.

Lookingforfocus · 13/04/2014 20:35

Also my DH who is a doctor says there are always lasers when they become adults if the scar needs a little correction.

MooseBeTimeForSpring · 13/04/2014 21:36

My son has a burn on his arm. The gel we are using is called KeloCote.

MooseBeTimeForSpring · 13/04/2014 21:37

I should clarify. The burn is healed. It's being used for the redness and scarring

DontWorryBaby · 13/04/2014 21:50

We have also used kelocote silicon gel for my son's burn but the really effective treatment for him has been silicon gel tape, called BAP Scar T.

Original poster
nectarini1983 · 14/04/2014 07:31

Thanks so much for all the great tips. Do you leave the gel sheets on the scar over night? Ive found ScarSil on amazon, will now have a look for others recommended.

OP posts:
Lookingforfocus · 14/04/2014 07:45

I would get medical advice before starting to treat your dd with medical products.

Good luck with it all. When our dd first had her accident the whole side of her face swelled up because it was soft tissue and the cut looked absolutely horrendous (long and deep). We kept her in the hotel room for three days because we were nervous another fall would open the wound again. It was red as everyone says for months, but now it is a very small faint scar that usually noone notices.

Don't beat yourself up, you followed medical advice at the time and silicon does work wonders. I'm amazed how well dd has healed because on the day of the accident I thought she would end up with very severe scarring.

Original poster
nectarini1983 · 14/04/2014 07:50

Im going to the see gp today anyway so will ask him about what hed recommend to use for her. I truly hope it'll fade in time.

OP posts:
Lookingforfocus · 14/04/2014 07:56

Take the names of the products in this thread in case he is unfamiliar with newer medications.

Lookingforfocus · 14/04/2014 08:02

I think they like to stitch when the wound has uneven sides (which was the case with DD). They tried to persuade her to cooperate but she was beside herself (she has history of chemotherapy so hates hospitals). So she had glue and strips to hold the wound together yet has still had a very positive outcome. Kids bodies heal in amazing ways and with the silicon I think there's a good chance the scarring won't be as bad as you fear. And as mentioned she can always be zapped with a laser by a plastic surgeon as a teen if it bothers her.

beautifulgirls · 14/04/2014 08:57

Kelocote comes as a gel you can rub on, DD was given it by plastics for a scar after an amputation to reduce thickening etc. her scar had the potential to be very difficult and it is amazing 2 years on considering. Dd had hers on prescription so may be worth asking the GP about it, though a pharmacy may need to order it in for you as many will not stock it routinely.

BobPatSamandIgglePiggle · 14/04/2014 09:17

It's only a scar, I bet she's still beautiful. Sorry but I really don't think it's that big a deal. She'll get chicken pox scars, possibly acne scars - they're part of life.

missmagnum · 14/04/2014 12:49

It sounds like my DS had a similar injury to your DD, he had quite a wide 1 inch long cut in the middle of his forehead, they glued it and at the time I was worried they should have stitched it.

He did it aged 2.5yr last June, for months it looked so red and angry and also really wide still, everyone kept saying not to worry it would fade, but as it was so red and not changing, I really didn't believe them. About January time it started to fade and now you really have to look to see it, its a thin silvery line now, which as people have said will get smaller and smaller as his forehead grows.

Try not to worry. Not sure if these pics will work, but thought I'd try and show you his progess.

scar on daughter's forehead...should have been stitched and not glued!
scar on daughter's forehead...should have been stitched and not glued!
scar on daughter's forehead...should have been stitched and not glued!
Original poster
nectarini1983 · 14/04/2014 14:50

Thank you. That is a very similar size scar and location as my daughters...right in the middle!! I think its because its so wide and angry looking still, as you say, I just couldn't imagine it would ever fade. It really is incredible how their litle bodies heal so well. I do feel reassured by all your stories and sounds like stitches may not have made any difference at all.

OP posts:
Coveredinweetabix · 15/04/2014 23:29

DD is 4.5 and it is about 20mths since she cut her forehead open in a similar way to the picture of the boy above. She's now got a thin silver scar. I know it is there; she knows it is there; very few other people do. To me, it still seems obvious but, when I have made a comment about her scar, people who have met her since (parents of friends made through pre-school for example) have genuinely been surprised as they haven't noticed. What cheered me at the time was the number of my friends who pointed out scars on their foreheads to me, scars I'd never previously noticed.
DD did go through a phase a couple of months ago if saying she didn't want a scar any more so I explained that she was the first of her bunch of friends to have one but, by the time they left primary school, loads of her friends would have them. One of her friends has glasses, another had a broken arm a while ago so we had a chat about those people being the first to do that and then had a general chat about everyone being different etc. She now seems quite accepting of it although I imagine it will crop up as an issue from time to time. I just thought I'd mention how we were dealing with it as I did get feel quite teary when DD said "but I don't want my scar any more" and I thought "no, ideally, I don't want you to have it either". It possibly helps her that I have a scar on my finger from where I cut my hand a few years ago and DP has a scar from his appendix being taken out.

ouryve · 15/04/2014 23:32

Stitches often leave much messier more complex scars. DH has one on his temple, which predates glue. It's a massive scar, even with the stitches. If the cut goes across the grain of the collagen in the skin, there's always going to be a scar.

ouryve · 15/04/2014 23:41

DS2 has a scar like that, BTW, where he fell and gashed his head on the noe piece of his glasses, before Christmas. Bled like fuck. He wouldn't even accept the strips on it. It's already quite tidy and pink, rather than angry and red. Nothing to bother us or him and so many kids can and do grow up a little bit proud of small scars like this, as they tend to tell a story.

ouryve · 15/04/2014 23:41

nose piece

Friedbrain · 16/04/2014 09:40

Her head will get bigger and the sacred will stay the same size so will obviously be alot smaller when she's older

Original poster
nectarini1983 · 17/04/2014 18:04

She does tell ppl about it and so far has been quite happy in doing so. I just hope it stays this way and it doesnt become something shes self conscious about...only time will tell on that front though. Shes still a little beauty though so I hope my putting oil/gel on her head doesn't make it a big deal in the future. Ferl like ive got to try something though.

OP posts:
Momof2boysMRSJ · 13/04/2017 08:16

Hi just wondering how the scar is looking now my boys age 2 split his head open when he fell against a metal post the cut was deep and large I had it guled and used silicone jel daily the scar is still wide and visible a year later and I fell terrible that this happened under my watch I'm hoping it would of gone a little by now but still looks as wide and obvious as ever! X

TaylorGentry · 12/07/2017 07:49

My son recently had a big bump at forehead and had 6 stitches at ER. I try dermalmd scar serum and it works surprisingly well after a few days. The scar is still there but it looks lighter than beginning. Well that is 6 stitches so my expectation is kind of low. It is medicine not magic. I am fine with dermalmd scar serum.

Luckymummy22 · 12/07/2017 07:55

Remember she still has a lot of growing to do but the scar won't grow. My boy had his head glued a few weeks ago. Scar is still on but dreading what it will look like when it comes off. But I think his will be hidden quite a bit by his hair

Roomba · 12/07/2017 07:58

DS1 split his chin right open when he slipped over in a puddle of his own puke (poor boy was running to the bathroom and it all went wrong!). It was awful and so angry looking. It was glued, and like you I wondered whether stitches would have been better. I couldn't imagine it ever not being visible. I got some gel sheets from Boots (expensive, I imagine they are much cheaper on Amazon) and used them for a while.

3 years later, I really have to squint hard to see his scar - it's a tiny thin silvery line that isn't visible at all unless you know what you're looking for.

sm40 · 12/07/2017 08:02

My dd cut her head open whilst we were in the middle of nowhere! My fil is facial plastic surgeon so facetimed him. We cleaned and steristripped it (carry them with me that's how accident prone we are are). Told us to go to
Hospital next day if still open/bleeding but he said some a and e doctors won't stitch as beautifully as a plastic surgeon so can leave a worse scar. Glue is better. If still really bad he said after a few years to consider plastic surgery. Dds scar is not noticeable anymore so not bad for a diy job!!