Scarring can happen at any age in life, when the skin cells that are regenerated are usually of lesser quality than the original cells. While scars cannot be permanently erased without a trace, they can be lightened or have their appearance improved. Parents can choose from DIY home remedies to anti-scar treatments made specifically and specially for kids!
Not every child will emerge unscathed during their early years in the school of hard knocks (otherwise known as life!). Some of their experiences will no doubt be fuelled by their developing motor skills (learning to walk and run), curiosity (exploring their surroundings, discovering cause-and-effect) and the natural need to get active (during vigorous playtimes).
In light of all this, it’s therefore natural for children to sustain bumps, scrapes, cuts and other lesions along the way. These injuries or wounds arise as a result of any activity or condition that adversely affects the skin’s surface: these can include rough-and-tumble play; insect bites from playing outdoors; minor mishaps and more severe accidents (the latter with minimal frequency, hopefully); or childhood ailments such as chickenpox or hand, foot and mouth disease.
Almost all these activities pose a certain degree of risk which simply cannot be avoided, as growing up is all part and parcel of life. Even the most careful and cautious of parents and children will soon have to come to terms and acknowledge this inevitability.
Risk is not necessarily a bad thing, however. It prompts children to be more acutely aware of their surroundings, practise making sound decisions and gradually instils greater independence and self-confidence. Eventually, they’ll also come to know that after the hurting, comes the healing.
Scar Outcomes
A scar may be defined as the mark left on exposed skin after it has been damaged. As a natural process the skin tries to heal itself. In order to repair itself, the skin produces a new tissue which results in a scar. If many layers of the skin are damaged, the scar will be deeper and more visible. The lighter scars may fade away with time.
The colour, size, shape and even texture are the aesthetic benchmarks that usually determine whether or not of a scar is hardly noticeable to the eye or distressingly obvious. The eventual appearance of the scar is affected by the severity of the injury or wound, and the degree of scarring will also depend on the depth and width of the wound or incision and the location. Healing is usually affected by:
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Alternative Methods
While genetics and skin pigmentation are beyond our control when it comes to scarring prognosis, infection of the wound site can be prevented, in order to relieve the side effects of wound infection. Scarring is one among the main after effects of wound problems. Proper care and treatment will thus help greatly in relieving side effects due to wound infection.
When turning to home remedies for curing wounds, avoiding and preventing irritation should be a top priority. Parents can begin by supplementing their children’s diets with more vitamin E foods such as sunflower seeds, pine nuts, almonds, dried apricots and cooked spinach. Intake of vitamin E-rich foods can help brighten skin and reduce the risk of permanent scarring. Application of diluted apple cider vinegar, honey or turmeric powder directly onto wounds is also effective for promoting natural healing as these ingredients have antiseptic properties to prevent bacterial infection.
What if, however, your child is already on the road to recovery but all evidence points to the early formation of a scar? And how about the treatment of existing and older scars?
Just like in wound treatment, some parents might prefer trying natural home remedies first, to alleviate the appearance of scars. The pros of such treatments are that the ingredients are usually easy obtained, economical and don’t have chemical-causing side-effects. The cons are that improvements may take a longer period of time to manifest (that is, if they do occur at all!), so you may need lots of patience and perseverance before you do see results.
Try:
1. Lemon: Lemon juice is known as natural bleach. As bleach lightens the colour so does the juice of lemon, which can be squeezed out and applied on scars.
2. Banana: Apply ripe banana pulp on scars. Leave for 10 minutes and then wash off.
3. Honey: Apply honey directly on the scars. Do this regularly.
4. Oils: You can opt to use lavender, tea tree, almond, olive or coconut oil. Simply add a few drops undiluted on some cotton wool or massage onto scars directly.
5. Vegetables: The juice from a cucumber or tomato can be massaged into scars, or cut a few slices and rub them gently one by one over the affected areas.
Whatever scar remedy or solution that you choose for your young ones’ delicate skin, parents, remember these three golden rules:
1. Practise due diligence by beginning the line of treatment early and consistently stick to it!
2. Boost your child’s natural immunity by keeping them well-hydrated, serving them at least two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables a day, and ensure that they have a good night’s sleep to recharge and regenerate
3. If the wound is still fresh, always keep the injury site clean and dry; refrain from picking at the scab until the new skin beneath has fully formed
Life’s Lessons
It’s natural for parents to fuss and fret whenever their little ones suffer any degree of physical injury. It’s equally natural that healing will, and does, happen, eventually. More importantly, by attempting to reduce the appearance of their kids’ scars with their best intentions and efforts, parents are helping to minimise the emotional impact that physical reminders of injuries and even traumatic events may have on their children.
During the healing process, parents should also continue reassuring their kids that they will always be loved and precious, whatever their appearance, scars and warts and all! If all else fails, encourage your kids to wear their “battle scars” as unique badges of pride! After all, the school of hard knocks will always cheer on and champion every individual who grows in courage and resilience as they pass through its doors.
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