I am often asked if there are any remedies which can help with scarring.
Scars on our skin and internally, are a natural part of the healing process as our body repairs from some kind of wound, often due to accidents, surgery or damage in some way. Scar tissue protects the healing area.
However, this tissue can build up quickly after injury or wounds whilst your body repairs. As this scar tissue builds there can be further complications such as suppuration, burning, itching and infection.
Scars can develop after surgery, accidents, trauma to the skin from itching, acne, chicken pox.
Types of scarring:
Hypertrophic
Perhaps the most common type of scar and usually develop after a trauma to the body – such as a burn, accident or surgery. They follow the line of the injury.
Keloid
These are enlarged, raised red scars which extend beyond the area of injury. They can be hairless, feel rubbery and tend to occur mainly on the chest, ear and shoulders. They are often red or purple first then become brown and pale
Burn
These are formed when the skin is burned on the top layer (superficial burn)
or through to the second layer of skin (partial thickness burn).
Depending on the severity and size of the burn they can be slow to heal which can result in scarring. These scars are very often hypertrophic spread over a large area.
Atrophic
Small pitted indentations on the skin. Often occurring after acne, chicken pox, insect bites, punctures wounds – such as injections.
Homeopathy can help
There are several homeopathic remedies which can help with this problem. Here are details of the more commonly used ones:
CALC. FLUOR
For stony, hard white scars. Keloids and cracked, dry, hard fissured skin. The edges of the scar can be hard and raised. There can be issues with old scars too – pain, infection, or ulcers. This remedy helps to soften the skin the body absorb the scar tissue. Can be taken as tissue salt also.
CALENDULA
This is a great remedy to take before any wound starts to scar to aid healing. This wonderful remedy helps to knit the layers of skin back together. Ensure the area is clean and dry and healing without any signs of infection before using this remedy. Can be used an tincture externally OR take as a remedy in low potency.
CAUSTICUM
For Keloid scars and itching scars. For old wounds or scars that crack open, ulcerate or are sore – these scars were healing well then re-open. This is a well-known remedy for helping scarring of burns and scalds particularly if they are slow to heal and remain sensitive.
GRAPHITES
For stony, hard white scars. Keloids and cracked, dry, hard fissured skin. The edges of the scar can be hard and raised. There can be issues with old scars too – pain, infection, or ulcers. This remedy helps to soften the skin the body absorb the scar tissue. Can be taken as tissue salt also.
SILICA
For very slow healing areas that look inflamed, painful and becoming infected. For Keloids, shiny glassy hard or nodular scars. Scars which become lumpy, tender and break open. Helpful for acne scars with poor wound healing and helps to prevent or dissolve scars after infection. Can be taken as tissue salt also.
THIOSINAMINIUM
Useful for scars which are healing with lumps and bumps with excessive scar tissue formation and Keloids. Can help heal older scars both internally and on the skin.
Potency of 6c taken 3 times daily for 3 weeks. Homeopathic pharmacies can also make up a cream with these remedies included which you can massage onto the area twice daily.
These are by no means the ONLY homeopathic remedies which can help with scarring of the body, but some of the more commonly used ones. You may find it beneficial to alternate more than one remedy – Calendula and Thios for example.
