SV: Tx of surgical incisions to prevent/minimise scarring

September 10, 2006

Yes,

put oinment of xylocain on the scar or operation ared daily for many days.

Are

Are Simeon Thoresen

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Sendt: 9. september 2006 14:42

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Emne: Tx of surgical incisions to prevent/minimise scarring

Hi Michael & All,

> Hi, all. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on any TCM

> external herbal cream/ointment for the prevention/minimization of

> post-surgical scarring. One of my patients had a fibroadenoma removed

> from her breast. The incision is about 2 inches and is healing nicely,

> but she would like to minimize the scarring. Thanks, Michael G. Pingicer,

> M.S., L.Ac. 347.342.9859

LLLT is brilliant post-op.

Whatever about herbal Tx, I would suggest IR laser every 2 days for 1

week.

Also, the patient should but a TENS and use it for 20 minutes along the

length of the incision every day for 1 month.

Best regards,

Chinese Herbal Medicine offers various professional services, including

board approved continuing education classes, an annual conference and a free

discussion forum in Chinese Herbal Medicine.

September 11, 2006

Hi,

I have tried many things in the past including Vit-E oil, Alovera, etc.

I have found that using Triple Antibiotic Ointent (Polymyxin-B Sulfate,

Bacitracin Zinc, and Neomycin sulfate) topically and covering the site with

oppsite or some similiar type dressing (changing the dressing daily) helps the

best! The oppsite is similiar to Gortex in that it allows the wound to breath

but doesn't allow contaminents form the air to penetrate into the wound. It

also doesn't become attached to the surface of the wound and so you usually

don't pull the scab off when you go to change the dressing, this minimizes the

healing time.

I know some of you are going to chime in with your concerns of the over-use of

antibiotics ... and the concerns of selecting for " Super-bugs " that are

anti-biotic resistant ... I hear you and I am a big advocate about not using

them unless it is absolutely necessary ... I use it anyway in this case and it

works!

The theory behind this is that any impurities in the air including bacteria

can become intertwined in the extracellular matrix that is forming during the

healing of the dermis.

If we can minimize the amount of foreign material and keep the wound ends in

close proximity to each other with minimal disturbance then we can minimize the

impact of the healing process in the formation of a scar " Prevention is the best

remedy " .

Anything else that you put on there topically is likely going to get in the

way of the tissue annealing and provide foreign material which probably will add

to the scarring process rather than inhibit it.

Once a scar has been formed then it is a lot more difficult to get rid of it.

You can try surrounding the dragon with superficial insertion of serin

acupuncture needles in conjunction with e-stim across the longitudinal axis of

the scar. You can also try some of the OTC remedies that are available at Rite

aid or your local drug store that include a topical compound (I think it is

acetate) and cover it with the bandage included with the kit. It is good for

keloid type scars, although I am not a big advocate of using chemical on the

body.

Either way I hope it heals wellQ

Steve

Are Thoresen <arethore wrote: