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Accelerated healing and scar reduction
ACCELERATED HEALING
AND SCAR REDUCTION
Find out how attending to your wound with the right dressing or plaster can prevent lasting damage to your skin – and even scars.
ABOUT
All you need to know
about scars
TREATMENT
Easy-to-follow tips
and advice
SOLUTIONS
Elastoplast products
that might help
PREVENTION
How to prevent
scarring and heal
more efficiently
ABOUT
A fall down the stairs, a car accident or surgery: many of life‘s events leave their marks as small or large scars. Nearly everybody has one or even more scars to remind him of such situations. Scars not only cause considerable pain when near joints and hinder mobility, but can also reduce self-confidence particularly when located on visible parts of the body.
How scars are formed
Scarring is a natural process that happens when the skin repairs itself, for example from a cut or an abrasion (also see: Instant Help Cuts and Grazes).
They occur when the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is cut and the injury extends to the dermis. The organism is unable to replace the destroyed, highly specialised tissue in the same way.
Wound closure with newly formed, pink skin and
vessels © Elastoplast
Raised or hypertrophic scar; © Elastoplast
Instead, the wound is “repaired” with connective tissue: In order to heal this wound or injury, the body produces a larger quantity of collagen to repair the broken and damaged skin tissue. Collagen serves to hold the broken skin together, helping to close and heal the area.

AS SOON AS YOU GET A
MINOR WOUND OR SCRAPE,
YOUR BODY WILL START
HEALING IT.

Even after the wound has healed the body continues to direct collagen to the site resulting in changes to the size and shape over time. The resulting scar has a poor blood circulation, is sometimes uneven and is less elastic.
Scars can sometimes be raised areas (hypertrophic scars) or have a sunken appearance, depending on the damage done to underlying layers of skin and tissue. Also, variations in colour are possible.

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TREATMENT
How to best treat a wound and prevent scarring

Leaving wounds uncovered or using standard plasters and bandages usually leads to the formation of a scab which can lead to unwanted scars.

So if you want to prevent scarring, you need to prevent your skin from forming a scab. This can be done by applying an advanced dressing that creates moist wound healing conditions. Nowadays there is a lot you can do to ensure fast recovery if you have suffered from an impairment to your skin – all thanks to new technologies and medical insights. Be smart and make the best out of these scientific findings. We have integrated them into our Elastoplast Fast Healing™ plasters, so you don’t have to worry about scarring anymore.

Healing wounds the advanced way – with moist wound healing
The best way to treat a wound is to keep it covered with a plaster that provides moist wound healing conditions at all times. Why is this better than leaving your wond uncovered?

  • It will speed up the renewal of your skin.
  • It will prevent scabs from forming.
  • It will keep your wound supple.
  • It will reduce the risk of scarring.
  • It is skin-friendly.

 

Want to know more? Refer to 5 good reasons for moist wound healing.

How do Elastoplast Fast Healing™ plasters support wound healing, prevent scabs and thus reduce the risk of scarring?

Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that under moist conditions, wounds can heal faster and scab formation is prevented. This is because moist wound healing (see 5 good reasons for moist woundhealing) promotes cell growth and migration and ensures that essential proteins remain within the wound. Elastoplast Fast Healing™ plasters are based on this advanced technology permitting control of the wound's moisture and temperature level.

Several studies* have shown that moist wound healing helps to prevent scars. It is an advanced technology used in hospitals worldwide, as it recreates the natural, moist wound healing environment your skin needs to repair itself.

Elastoplast Fast Healing™ plaster with antiseptic wound pad
© Elastoplast
Clinical Studies

The efficacy of Elastoplast Scar Reducer has been proven in several clinical studies. Want to know more about it? Download the complete comprehensive pdf:

Download Studies
* Klopp R et al., Journal of Wound Care 200; 9(7):319-324
Mensing H. et al., Aktuelle Dermatologie 2003; 29:230-235
Schmidt, A. et al., Treating. Journal of Wound Care 2001;10(5):149-153
Wigger-Alberti W et al., Journal of Wound Care 2009; 18(5):208-14
So moist wound healing is the ideal treatment to repair your skin, because…
Creating moist wound healing conditions is easy: e.g. with the Elastoplast Fast Healing™ Plaster; © Elastoplast
  • It provides a moist environment so that no scab forms, allowing cells to move and divide quicker.
  • It allows the wound to heal up to 50%* faster.
  • It improves the overall healing process, as it keeps the wound moist, the skin flexible and any movement pain-free.
  • It is proven to reduce the risk of scarring, leading to a better cosmetic result after small injuries (and even after minor operations or mole removals).

(Also see: 5 good reasons for moist wound healing)

*Agren MS et al. Occlusion versus air exposure on full-thickness biopsy wounds.
Journal of Wound Care; 2001, Vol.10, No. 8: 301-304

An Elastoplast Fast Healing™ plaster can stay on safely for two days or more. Changing your plaster too often interrupts the wound healing process. Elastoplast Fast Healing™ plasters are designed to be comfortable to wear, as they are breathable, waterproof and very skin-friendly.
Learn how to reduce scars
It's still not possible to completely remove scars once scarring occurs, but there are some effective methods to reduce their visibility.
Here are some general guidelines you should follow:
Tip 1
Stay well clear of tanning beds and protect your skin from UV-rays to save recent scars from harm. The influence of light can affect the healing process and change the skin’s color and structure.
Tip 2
Always use a moisturizing cream after wound closure to keep your damaged skin soft and smooth.
Tip 3
Applying an Elastoplast Scar Reducer patch to an existing scab will also help. If used regularly and according to directions, it will reduce the visibility of raised and red scars within 8 weeks*.
Expert Tip - Elastoplast Scar Reducer
Dr. Rainer Wolber, Research & Development, Beiersdorf AG
Scar reducer remodels scar tissue by activating temperature and pressure

“No scar can ever be removed completely and treatments will always leave a trace. However, Elastoplast Scar Reducer is a product designed to reduce thickened and reddened scars and to make them less visible. The Elastoplast Scar Reducer patch will reduce elevated and coloured scars if applied regularly over a period of 8 weeks*. It encourages the skin‘s own regeneration process by creating an ideal skin climate: The temperature level produced in the scar tissue increases. Also, enzyme activity and metabolic processes are stimulated to activate restructuring of the scar tissue.The Scar Reducer patches are breathable and made of skin-friendly polyurethane material.

“ELASTOPLAST SCAR REDUCER
WILL EVEN WORK ON OLDER SCARS. TRY IT!”

Treatment can be started as soon as the wound healing is completed. However, hypertrophic (raised) scars can be reduced even if they are very old.”

* Klopp R et al. Effect of four treatment variants on the functional and cosmetic state of mature scars. Journal of Wound Care 200; 9(7):319-324

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SOLUTIONS
You might want to try these products:

Fortunately, it’s not difficult to prevent some scars and reduce others. Keep your wound covered and moist. Elastoplast has a range of specially developed plasters to choose from:

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PREVENTION

It’s not easy to prevent minor wounds and scrapes. Trip over a curb, mishandle a sharp kitchen knife, and before you know it you‘re bleeding.

Tips

01

When using sharp tools, be especially careful and if necessary, wear protective gear.
In the kitchen, chop away from yourself and remember that sharp knives are actually less dangerous than blunt ones as they will pass through the object smoother.

02

03

Pass scissors with the sharp ends pointing away from the person you are giving them to.

It's impossible to avoid all cuts and grazes, so make sure to have a well-stocked First Aid kit at home. Find tips on what it should contain here.

04

Don‘t pick at scabs. Right after you get a cut or scrape your body starts healing the wound. White blood cells attack infection-causing bacteria. Red blood cells and platelets create a clot over your wound. And in no time, a scab forms. If you pick off the scab, you may not only reopen the wound and open the door for bacteria, you could also create a larger scar.
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Always see your doctor if the wound is deep, bleeding or shows signs of infection like reddening, swelling or warmth. Also make sure to seek medical help if you are not able to clean the wound properly.
 
In case you have diabetes proper wound care is of special importance. Always discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor and/or podiatrist, even for the care of minor wounds and skin cracks – especially on your feet.
 
Please note that none of the tips or recommendations mentioned above substitute medical advice. Carefully read the directions on our product packages. Important: Consult a medical professional in case of any uncertainity of treating your wound properly.
 
The information provided on this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care or advice. If you have or suspect a health problem, you should consult your doctor. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read on this website.

For further information regarding Elastoplast products, please contact us via e-mail at consumerrelations@bdfcdn.com.

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Health & Protection
  • Burns
  • Accelerated healing and scar reduction
  • Cuts and grazes
  • First Aid
    • Beauty & Care
  • Blisters
    • Expert Tip
    Dr. Rainer Wolber, Research & Development, Beiersdorf AG
    “The Elastoplast Scar Reducer patch reduces elevated and coloured scars and encourages the skin’s regeneration process by creating an ideal skin climate.”
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