[Note: This is a sponsored guest post written by Houtan Chaboki, MD, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon serving Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. With summer on the horizon and kids outdoors, active, and likely a bit more prone to cuts and scrapes than usual, these tips and information will be good to keep on hand.]
Cuts, scrapes, and abrasions are expected in any household, especially homes with children. As a facial plastic surgeon in the bustling Washington, DC area, I’m often asked what ointment is recommended to minimize scars after injuries or surgery. Generally, the answer is always the same: A bland, non-allergenic ointment must be used continuously for the first few weeks after injury or surgery. Keep the area “glistening” with ointment.
Many companies may claim that their particular ointments or creams reduce scarring after plastic surgery, injury, scratches, or cuts better than competing products. However, in the medical literature, there isn’t much well-done scientific research to support those claims. So how does one pick the best ointment to prevent scars?
First, speak with your plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or primary care physician and follow his or her advice, as some injuries might require more than just an ointment.
Historically, the general idea among plastic surgeons years ago was to keep the wound open and let it dry and scab to aid in preventing infection. However, plastic surgeons now better understand the wound healing process and no longer recommend letting a wound get dry. Covering a wound and skin with an ointment generally improves healing and may possibly prevent the need for future scar revision procedures.
Numerous studies suggest that any occlusive dressing on the skin (after injury, plastic surgery, etc.) will improve the final scar by around 33%. The dressing may be a bandage, ointment, or both. Simply covering up the skin area with something improves the redness, swelling, and overall cosmetic appearance. Physicians don’t know specifically how covering the skin helps, but it does help.
A bland, non-allergic material, such as petrolatum jelly or silicone, should be used as the occlusive skin dressing for the first several weeks after injury or surgery. Some brand names of products with varying degrees of petrolatum include Vaseline®, Aquaphor®, and Mederma®.
Studies have additionally shown that a few topical ointments, such as vitamin E, triple antibiotic, Neosporin®, or Bacitracin®, may cause contact dermatitis or a skin allergy after lengthy use. Other topical antibiotic ointments have much less risk of skin allergy, such as polymyxin B or muporicin.
Lastly, there isn’t any convincing evidence that adding any ingredients to the bland, non-allergic ointment has an added benefit. Ointments with these additives, on the other hand, might cause irritation or allergy, so I generally don’t recommend them.
Covering a wound is one aspect of wound care to minimize scarring. Other methods to help reduce scarring after injury or plastic surgery include:
- Avoid prolonged, direct sunlight. Use hats, clothes, bandages, etc. for protection.
- Treat infections immediately. Signs of infection include increasing pain, redness, swelling, and discharge.
- Massage the area once the wound has appropriately healed.
- Drink plenty of fluids and keep hydrated.
For my plastic surgery patients, I usually recommend topical petrolatum jelly or silicone gel (patient’s choice) to be used continuously on the incision for the first several weeks after surgery. The patient doesn’t need to remove the existing ointment; he or she can just apply more to the area several times daily to keep it “glistening.” Once incisions have healed appropriately, patients should go back to using sunblock daily.
At our own home with our two very active (and mischievous) daughters, we keep several containers of plain petrolatum jelly around the house.
About the author: Dr. Houtan Chaboki is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Serving Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, he specializes in cosmetic facial surgery, reconstructive facial surgery, and medical spa treatments. He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. As a member of FACE TO FACE: The NationalDomestic Violence Project, he provides free cosmetic surgery for victims of domestic violence. He is passionate about providing all his deserving patients with top-level care and beautiful results.
Dr. Chaboki’s two offices are located at:
2021 K St NW #206
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 741-3409
5215 Loughboro Rd NW #210
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 741-3409
