Which healing cream to choose to erase scars on your skin

Wounds, scars, lesions on the skin… Following a surgical intervention, it often happens that you have recourse to a healing ointment. But when you arrive at the pharmacy, among all these active ingredients available, you do not know which healing cream to choose … To treat your scar in the most effective way, you must select a healing ointment adapted according to the healing phase, but also in depending on the area to be treated on your skin.

The 3 phases of skin healing

The skin insulates and protects the body against the external environment. When a wound occurs, the body naturally triggers a natural biological phenomenon: scarring.
In particular, it represents a complex repair process during which the body must stop the bleeding, protect, cleanse and close the wound. The damaged tissue must be reconstituted, as close as possible to the initial tissue.

The healing of an acute wound, whether traumatic or surgical, is effected by scarring. After injury to the skin, scarring will therefore initiate a process of tissue repair and regeneration. This is a natural dynamic process, which goes through different phases. The good progress of each of them is essential to ensure the formation of a quality scar, not interfering with the function or the aesthetic appearance of the injured site.

The healing is carried out in 3 successive phases, characterized by specific cellular activities, which advance the repair process according to precise chronological sequences and overlap with each other.

• The first stage of healing of the skin (from 2 to 4 days), the vascular and inflammatory phase, early, also called the debridement phase or exudative phase for the debridement of a wound. It is during this first phase that certain immune cells, including antibodies, will absorb and destroy the tissues attacked by the lesion.
• The second healing stage (10 to 15 days), the budding phase which corresponds to the proliferative phase with development of the granulation tissue. This tissue makes it possible to fill the loss of substance by a new tissue thanks to neoangiogenesis and cell proliferation. The budding phase continues until epithelialization (or re-epidermization).
• During the third stage (from 2 months to 2 years), the collagen and elastin fibers strengthen to restore structure to the epidermis. The vascular network will also organize itself to return to a “normal” state. Thus, the resistance of the skin will increase and its elasticity as well, to be firmer. The scarred area remains fragile for 2 years, while the skin regains its balance.

How to properly heal the wound

The outermost layer of the skin is called the epidermis. In particular, it plays a barrier role, is constantly being renewed and is easily repairable. The healing process of a wound varies from person to person and from injury to injury. Scars are the result of a normal healing process of the skin and their appearance depends on the type of skin and the extent and depth of the injury.

Cleanse the skin to promote healing

• To accelerate the healing of a wound, it must be cleaned well with water and soap or physiological serum and disinfect it just once with antiseptic, but not with alcohol, which is too irritating, nor with eosin, which has no antiseptic power and whose red color may hide a possible complication.
• When the wound is dry, you can cover the wound with a loose bandage to protect it from infection. Change daily and when wet. Consider this especially if you have to be out in the sun.

Apply a healing cream to the skin

• The faster we intervene, the faster the return to normal will be.
• Applying a healing treatment twice a day will shorten healing time and help erase scars faster.
• But while some wounds can be treated without medical intervention, others should be seen by a doctor straight away, such as wounds more than 6 cm deep, wounds that require stitches, or when the bleeding is uncontrollable. .

Massage with a restorative cream to prevent scabs from forming

When a scab forms, it is not necessary to try to remove it, but to soften it so that it falls on its own. It is recommended to use a repairing cream, such as Flamigel repairing gel, to prevent the formation of scabs and thus facilitate the healing of dry and wet wounds.

Choose a pharmacy healing cream to erase the scars on your skin

Using a healing cream has many benefits for the whole family. Treating a scratch so that it heals faster, accelerating the healing of all the small lesions of the skin on a daily basis, that is its mission. Some are also antibacterial to prevent wound infection.

In order to optimize healing, it is therefore necessary to choose care adapted to the different stages of wound development. These treatments can be in the form of a healing gel, balm, cream or ointment. It is first of all necessary to favor treatments with antibacterial properties based on copper and zinc to limit the wound infection as much as possible. When healing is more advanced, you can turn to restorative, soothing and nourishing treatments that will take care of the new tissue. Anti-itching treatments also help to relieve the urge to scratch, which is a barrier to good healing.

• Restorative healing creams help to heal small wounds, soothe irritation, and repair the skin in the event of burns, for example.
• The healing is used in case of small scars or small irritations.
• For best results, however, the healing cream or ointment should be applied regularly, gently massaging the scar tissue.
• The repairers, however, are not intended for daily use: use the Repairing Healing Cream occasionally.

Different healing creams depending on your type of scar to be treated

A distinction must be made between healing creams sold mainly in the parapharmacy department, which are therefore considered to be dermo-cosmetic. And those prescribed directly by a doctor after an operation, which are in fact drugs sold in pharmacies.

• Deep and recent scars (less than six months): small and large surgeries, wounds… In these areas, the thinner and less supple skin burns quickly under the effect of UV rays. In addition to a risk of hyperpigmentation, tightness and other feelings of discomfort may occur.
• Superficial scars: a simple scratch or mosquito bite that has been scratched forms an inflammation of the epidermis and therefore a possible hyperpigmentation. This is also the case with acne. Unprotected, scars from pimples that are still red or pink will almost systematically leave brown marks.

Healing creams for small lesions (sores, skin irritation, chapped skin, burns, cuts, abrasions, scratches)

The purpose of healing creams is not to replace the natural healing of small lesions but to speed up its process. However, this allows the skin to regain a smoother appearance as soon as possible.

 

	Cooper CicaSédermyl Repairing Healing Cream is recommended for healing and repairing the skin. Cicasedermyl Repair Cream Cooper contains chlorhexidine, an antibacterial agent. It is an add-on treatment that can also temporarily reduce the amount of microorganisms present in a wound that can become infected.
	Dr Theiss calendula healing cream is the essential treatment to accelerate the healing of all minor injuries (redness, scratches, small cuts, irritated skin, etc.) as well as diaper rash in babies.
	Cicatridine cream is a repairing and moisturizing cream for external use based on hyaluronic acid which facilitates the healing of the skin in the face of the aggressions of everyday life: dry skin, sores, skin irritation, cracks, burns, cuts, abrasions , scratches.

Healing cream for face and acne

For everyday irritations, small cuts and scrapes, Cicalfate, Cicaplast B5, Cicabio and Epithéliale creams effectively repair the skin.

	Cicaplast Epidermal Repair Accelerator Healing Cream is indicated in the event of epidermal damage: skin irritations, cracks, dermatological interventions … Cicaplast accelerates the reconstruction of the skin barrier.
	Cicabio Bioderma Healing Ointment promotes skin repair of damaged and dry skin by acting on each step of the biological process of epidermal reconstruction while effectively controlling potential skin disturbances
	A-Derma face and body cream is specially formulated to promote cutaneous repair of damaged skin thanks to the combination of total extract of Rhéalba oat (anti-irritant, softening) and hyaluronic acid.

 

Healing cream after surgery

 

	Cicatryl ointment is used for the local treatment of small superficial wounds and burns. However, be careful with the presence of two excipients with known effects (E 2016 and E 218) which may be the cause of contact eczemas. Before use, seek advice from your doctor.
	BepanthenCica Anti-Scar Gel is a medical device that can be used after injury or surgery. It can treat both recent and old scars. This gel is suitable for adults as well as children.
	Ialuset Plus healing cream is a healing cream for burns and infected wounds, dermatological conditions that are primarily bacterial or susceptible to superinfection.

Healing cream after a tattoo

Healing a tattoo is a long process. The first 10 days the skin is then “alive”. However, she will need rigorous care several times a day with specially formulated products. After this step, however, you must continue to take care of it to keep your skin hydrated. During the healing period, however, your skin will eliminate a small amount of ink on its own. Discover the biocyte tattoo derm routine to take care of your tattoo, as well as your skin:

	After a tattoo, it is necessary to take care of your skin very quickly, following the first enemas of the tattoo. The healing cream after tattooing soothes the sensations of tightness, it intensely hydrates the skin and protects it.
	Biocyte Tatto Derm 2 ointment has been specially developed to keep your tattoo more beautiful, longer.

Also remember to protect your scars from the sun with Bioderma Photoderm laser SPF50 + anti-spot cream, a very high sun protection cream for damaged skin, during scars following a dermatological intervention. It is mainly used on the face and the body.

For more information on the anti-scar cream to use on your skin, do not hesitate to ask your expert pharmacist for advice using our secure form.

Emmanuel.