How to prevent and treat post-infection scarring?
A clinical study showed that infected wounds were related with worse cosmetic rating after a 30-day follow-up (70 vs 87 on a 100-point scale). Also, scar revision surgery was more likely considered in patients with infected wounds (24.6% vs 9.6%).
Infections are cause by a “micro” foreign agent that breaches the skin barrier and enters in our body. These microorganisms - that can be viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or helminths - exist normally on all surfaces of our body, and the skin plays an important role as a barrier, preventing their unwanted entrance.
However, the great opportunity for those microorganisms to break skin barrier is when a wound occurs. These organisms are able to migrate into the wound and start to duplicate, causing infection. Infections will affect the wound healing process, either by slowing it down or even blocking it, and may culminate in abnormal scarring.
Some of us have a higher probability of having infected wounds. Nevertheless, small actions such as to keep your wound clean and dry can be implemented to prevent the infection. Also, to ensure a good hand-washing procedure by using an antimicrobial soap and warm water before touching the wound would be an added touch to prevent infection.
Even if, after all these precautions, the infection cannot be avoided and results in abnormal scarring, Kelo.Cell Biogel can help you to improve the appearance of your scars by softening and flattening the scar tissue, with its innovative stem cells-based formula. Also, due to silicone technology incorporated in Kelo.Cell Biogel, an occlusive barrier is created to protect the scarred tissue from bacterial invasion, effectively maintaining the affected area hydrated.
Drexler M; Institute of Medicine (US). What You Need to Know About Infectious Disease. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2010. I, How Infection Works. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209710/ (22/11/2022)
Guo, S., & Dipietro, L. A. (2010). Factors affecting wound healing. Journal of dental research, 89(3), 219–229. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034509359125
Kadam S and Kaushik K (2020) From Ouch to Ah-ha! Understanding Wounds, Healing, and Infections. Front. Young Minds. 8:157. doi: 10.3389/frym.2019.00157
NHS website. (2021, November 18). Scars. Nhs.Uk. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scars/ (22/11/2022)
Quinn, J. V., Polevoi, S. K., & Kohn, M. A. (2014). Traumatic lacerations: what are the risks for infection and has the 'golden period' of laceration care disappeared? Emergency medicine journal : EMJ, 31(2), 96–100. https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2012-202143
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