The skin is the largest organ in our body. It completely encloses the rest of our tissues and helps to protect them against pathogens and toxins in the outside environment. When our skin is injured or cut, it must repair itself to maintain the protective integrity, or infection can occur. There are a number of vitamins, minerals, and herbs that can help to support healthy scar formation and return to normal skin appearance and function.
Understanding Scar Formation
Any trauma to the tissue is quickly sealed by clotting blood, and immune cells immediately migrate to the area to begin repair. This is all a natural part of the healing process. Repair cells called fibroblasts move to the cut region and begin to lay down strands of collagen, much like those found in normal tissue. Scar tissue is more organized than normal tissue, and most of the collagen strands are laid in line with one another, which results in the more dense and shiny tissue we know as a "scar". This scar formation begins in the deepest layers of tissue and finishes at the surface.
What Are The Different Types of Scars?
Hypertrophic Scars
Sometimes during growth and repair, a scar can grow to become raised beyond the normal skin level, without growing beyond the boundaries of the original wound. This type of overgrowth is known as a hypertrophic scar.
Keloids
A keloid forms when the hypertrophy of a scar passes beyond the original wound boundaries and begins to expand in claw-like growths over normal tissue. Keloids can become quite large. They are firm, rubbery, shiny tissue masses that are often accompanied by severe itchiness and pain. Keloids are more commonly found in darker-skinned females and most often form on the head, neck and chest. Many medical doctors will attempt surgical removal of the keloid, but in more than 50% of cases, it will grow back. Those who have had one keloid form are at a much greater risk of forming another in the future and should avoid injury and surgeries that will create scars whenever possible.
Stretch Marks
During periods of sudden growth or weight gain, like during puberty or pregnancy, the skin cannot keep up with the growth of the rest of the body. Stretching skin beyond its limits creates small tears. The body fills these breaks with scar tissue. This process creates the pink lines commonly called stretch marks. Over time, these scar lines will contract and pale in colour, helping them to become less noticeable. Research has shown that high levels of the stress hormone cortisol increase the likelihood of forming stretch marks. Thus, proper stress management can help to prevent the formation of stretch marks during times of growth and weight gain.
Organ Scarring
Damage from poor blood flow or toxins can reduce organ function. Moderate to severe heart attacks and liver cirrhosis can cause this damage. Scar tissue can replace healthy tissue and reduce organ performance. Adhesions form when scar tissue develops between organs. These scars can tighten over time and affect function.
What Supplements Support For Good Scar Formation?
Collagen
Much like the rest of our tissue, scar tissue is made up mostly of collagen. The collagen laid down in scar tissue is mostly type I and type III collagen. These help reinforce the tissue structure and hold the edges of the wound together again. Supplementation with collagen during the healing process can help promote proper scar formation.
Vitamin C
Without sufficient vitamin C, the body cannot complete scar formation. In fact, during the remodelling of scars, a lack of vitamin C causes the scars to reopen because the body cannot form new tissue. This reopening of old scars is one of the symptoms of scurvy, the common name for vitamin C deficiency. Mant scar creams, oils, and ointments contain vitamin C. Research suggests vitamin C supports collagen formation and wound healing. These processes may help improve scar appearance over time.
Minerals
There are a number of trace minerals that play an essential role in proper wound healing and scar formation. The most important are: zinc, copper and manganese. These processes involve signaling pathways that support wound healing. They also rely on the structural building blocks of tissue.
Calendula
After a scab falls away, calendula creams may help smooth and soften healing skin. This can help to speed healing and promote a less visible scar in future. Be sure not to use calendula prior to complete closure of the wound, as it can cause the superficial layers of skin to heal too quickly, which can accidentally seal in a pocket of infection below.
Vitamin E
Topical vitamin E has long been used to aid the treatment of new scars. Recent research has found that this may not be successful in up to 1/3rd of cases and in some cases may actually cause hypertrophy of the scar. A large number of scar treatment creams and oils still contain vitamin E, and many still swear by its use.
