Scars go through several stages as they heal. These are: haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling.
Stages of Wound Healing
Haemostasis
(occurs within the first few seconds)
This is the first stage of healing, which happens in response to an injury. Blood vessels in the area that is injured constrict to reduce the amount of blood lost. The body then releases platelets at the site to coagulate the blood and form a clot.
Inflammation
(0-4 days)
The second stage is inflammation, which presents as redness, swelling, pain and a burning sensation. This is caused by your body releasing neutrophils and macrophages to remove debris and prevent infection. Fibroblasts are attracted to the injured area to start producing collagen as a scaffolding for new growth.
Proliferation
(2-24 days)
During this stage new connective tissue and blood vessels are formed where the damage has occurred. The wound also reduces in size due to the fibroblasts starting to produce collagen fibres.
Remodelling
(24 days to 1 year)
This is the final stage where collagen is remodelled to form a scar. During this stage, the amount of collagen changes from being at its peak for wound strength, to forming a mature scar with a collagen matrix that more closely resembles normal skin.
When Should You Use DermaScar?
As soon as the skin has healed apply DermaScar so that the remodelling stage can happen in an ideal environment. DermaScar provides a barrier to ensure optimal hydration for skin healing, which reduces the amount of scar collagen formation and promotes regular alignment of collagen fibres. This can help to reduce the risk of abnormal scars, such as keloid or hypertrophic scars, as well as help to treat already formed scar.
