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Original poster

What do you recommend for helping scars heal? Particularly wrist scars on a teenager.

39 replies

namechangeforthisjjjjjj · 31/03/2021 18:02

I'm hoping the wise and deeply knowledgeable posters on here can help. DD is coming home for Easter and recently confided how upset she was that the scars on her wrists weren't healing.

Yes, sadly is self-harming which we hadn't realised although we know about other mental health issues.

I'd love to give her a cream or something which might help them fade? Don't mind how expensive - this is important.

Is there anything that's really good?

OP posts:
Anotheruser02 · 31/03/2021 18:22

LRP Cicaplast is very good, as are arnica pellets it the cuts are still knitting.
Also I don't know the age of your dd (I'm presuming uni?) but I had a very deep cut from a stanley blade on my leg once it healed rock hard and quite itchy and was very dark it looked like a red blister as it was so deep it healed quite wide, I thought that was a permanent scar as I'd had it well over a year, then I took Imedeen Derma One which is supposed to be an anti ageing supplement, I was taking it for my enormous pores but over a few weeks the scar become flat and soft and faded to a light pink colour. I can't say for certain it was that as that isn't in the description of things the tabs were supposed to do, but it's gone completely now and I was astounded that something I had accepted as just a part of me healed in such a short time, I'd not applied any topical treatment to it at all.

RunningFromInsanity · 31/03/2021 18:23

Bio-oil? Works for some people, not for others.

olympicsrock · 31/03/2021 18:29

Massage ( firm circular pressure). Silicon tape. Avoid sunlight for first year as the UV light will cause brown discolouration of the scar in the long term. Long sleeves / plasters or factor 50 every day

Original poster
namechangeforthisjjjjjj · 31/03/2021 18:44

Thanks - great advice

And how extraordinary AnotherUser... going to look into that as Im a big believer in nutritional stuff helping healing

OP posts:
bellabride · 31/03/2021 20:07

Camouflage body make-up?

Nellie850 · 31/03/2021 20:14

I would recommend bio oil as well. Helped me, although I do wonder if it was just the moisturising that helped so any moisturiser would do.

Just as an aside. I think it’s lovely that you want to get your DD a cream to help her scars but I’d just be careful how you frame it when you give her something. It could be seen by her that you think the scars are ugly and must be ‘treated’ so that they can’t be seen. Maybe get her the cream alongside other things to support her mental well-being all in a gift box? Just an idea, maybe a rubbish one!

Volcanoexplorer · 31/03/2021 21:10

Bio-oil helped me on both my appendix scar and c-section scar. The doctor also recommended it when I had a 3rd degree tear.

Nc967125 · 31/03/2021 21:29

Vitamin e oil from body shop - sold as a face serum but recommended by a doctor for surgery scars. Helped loads.
Also silicon patches worn at night. Can be got on prescription if you have a decent doctor.

Airplanes · 31/03/2021 21:35

Vitamin e oil or wheatgerm oil

rjacksmiss · 31/03/2021 21:41

My friend burnt his hand really badly and used CBD oil. He went from 2nd degree burns to almost normal looking skin within 12 days. It was quite miraculous. Maybe worth checking that out? x

SwanShaped · 31/03/2021 21:46

CicaCare silicone gel pad is for scars. You can get it from amazon

Pob13 · 31/03/2021 22:01

@olympicsrock

Massage ( firm circular pressure). Silicon tape. Avoid sunlight for first year as the UV light will cause brown discolouration of the scar in the long term. Long sleeves / plasters or factor 50 every day
Thats really interesting. I did not treat my scars at the time and now 15 years later the minute my arms see a bit of sun they really stand out. I look a bit like a zebra when i have a tan.
ColourfulElmerElephant · 31/03/2021 22:03

After surgery I bought some healing plasters from the pharmacy and they worked really well.

I hope your daughter is ok.

Moondust001 · 31/03/2021 22:03

Bio-oil has a great press. Unfortunately the evidence says that you may as well use Cocoa Butter Cream or Vaseline, which are as effective; and probably not terribly helpful for something like this.

The science says that these scars may never fade entirely no matter what she does, but silicon gel or sheets are what plastic surgeons use - they demonstrably do work, but on old scars, they may only improve (although perhaps significantly) the scarring. It's an investment of time though - at least 3 - 6 months of use for at least 12 hours a day. Needling can produce results too - but you would need professional advice as to the correct tool, and again, it may only improve the look rather than eradicate it. And needling does worry me a little when it comes to self-harm wounds, because it is, albeit a nonpainful medical procedure with a history, also damaging the skin, and I might be concerned about triggers. So maybe caution about the method?

Any method is best used on "young scars" - the older they are, the harder to eradicate. Personal experience for me - I used silicon gel / patches on a hip replacement scar and ankle surgery scars, and I have no marks; and also on a hand that had had the skin ripped by a dog (not mine!), again with no scarring. But in all cases I obviously used them as soon as the skin had healed. But I can highly recommend the method.

One other thought on this - she may or may not be able to diminish the visibility of the scars. But they are also a sign of victory and personal strength, if she chooses to make them that. I don't know why she self-harmed, but it takes enormous strength of character and will to stop. Those scars are a part of the journey of what appears to be a strong young woman. She could learn, if not to love them, to be proud of what she has achieved and what that achievement represents.

GojiberryStar · 31/03/2021 22:04

My therapist recommended vitamin e cream massaged in regularly.

Honestly they never go away completely but the act of massaging the cream in is self care on its own.

💐for you. It's shite.

IHaveBrilloHair · 31/03/2021 22:06

My poor Dd is absolutely covered, arms and legs and nothing has worked for her.
Her tattoo artist is hoping to cover them for her in future.
I have to tread v carefully when talking to Dd about them.

frugalkitty · 31/03/2021 22:07

Oh your poor DD. I'd recommended Clarins beauty repair concentrate which I've always found the best thing for scars. It's expensive but you only need a couple of drops so it lasts for ages Flowers

theBeeeeeeeep · 31/03/2021 22:11

Hi OP, I wonder if a holistic approach might be best because she has obviously feeling low. So focus on taking good care of self in general to be in optimum health for healing. Regular meals, 5 fruit/veg a day, eating the rainbow. sticking within alcohol limits, daily exercise, multi vitamin and perhaps include a cica cream in there too as part of a general self care routine. It isn't really about covering up the problem or hiding the evidence.... if she is suffering and can't hide the consequences of self harm this could be a really could motivation to begin taking better care of herself and linking in with some counselling?

BTW Bio oil not recommended for fresh scars/ broken skin. Check the packaging but possibly months before recommended

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 31/03/2021 22:20

Vitamin C. Had cause to see a dermatologist for treatment over a few months. They were very taken aback by my rate of healing and I was quizzed on my diet.
Freshly squeezed orange juice every morning was the only thing that stood out. From oranges, not some marketing bollocks on the carton.

I hope your DD feels much better soon, they should fade over time and I'd echo the views of a holistic approach above. Factor 50, stay pale and interesting this year. They will redden and be very itchy in the sun.

Original poster
namechangeforthisjjjjjj · 01/04/2021 16:32

Thank you for both lovely words and beautiful advice

Moondust - this particularly moved me, and has helped shift my perspective and I'm going to explore gently with her next time she raises it But they are also a sign of victory and personal strength, if she chooses to make them that. I don't know why she self-harmed, but it takes enormous strength of character and will to stop. Those scars are a part of the journey of what appears to be a strong young woman. She could learn, if not to love them, to be proud of what she has achieved and what that achievement represents.

And yes I hadn't thought of massaging cream or oil in being a way of showing herself self-care, something she is gently exploring....

Nellie thank you for your aside.... I only talk to her about her scars when she brings them up, and follow her lead.... so thank you for this beautiful gentle reminder....

OP posts:
Wavypurple · 01/04/2021 16:41

I’m not a great help regarding the scar treatment but of it’s any consolation to yourself and your daughter I had severe, deep wounds and scars on my arms as a young teenager. 24 now and I can only see scars in a certain light, probably only because I know they’re there. I scar very easily and they surprisingly healed very well.

You sound like an amazing supportive parent by the way.

StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind · 01/04/2021 16:47

@namechangeforthisjjjjjj no real advice on helping fade scars, I've bought bio oil in the past but am always a bit useless at remembering to apply often enough.

I just wanted to wish you and your daughter the best. I have some self harm scars, one being quite a large one on my forearm that required stitches. I barely notice it tbh- it's faded a lot (happened 19 years ago) the skin is shiny but I guess I don't notice it; it's just part of my arm like any of the moles and freckles I have.

I've struggled on and off with mental health and have had some very difficult times in my life but now at 32 its not something I have the urge to do frequently at all. I guess now I feel that all my experiences make me who I am and I'm not ashamed of the scars.

I don't know if this helps at all but thought another perspective may be useful x

ellequick · 01/04/2021 20:10

I used silicone gel sheets on three long keloid scars on my arm, and it took them from raised, pink scars to flat, white. You can buy them on Amazon. Of course the scars are still visible but I was very happy with the result. Bio oil didn’t do anything for those scars (nor my stretch marks!) Good luck x

PragmaticWench · 01/04/2021 20:48

Bio Oil is about as much use as any moisturiser.

The only thing shown to to be effective in clinical trials is silicone gel. You can get it over the counter in a gel form or in patches that you stick on.

Good luck, it's really brave of your DD to admit to these. Definitely agree with the advice above about boosting her self esteem.

Apileofballyhoo · 01/04/2021 20:51

Silicone plasters - flattened and whitened a raised pink keloid scar for me. Flowers for you and Flowers for your DD.