HEALTHY HEALING AND SCAR REDUCTION
Find out how attending to your wound with the right dressing or plaster can prevent lasting damage to your skin - and even scars.

ABOUT

A fall down the stairs, a car accident or surgery: many of life‘s events leave their marks as small or large scars. Nearly everybody has one or even more scars to remind him of such situations. Scars cannot only cause considerable pain when near joints and hinder mobility, but can also reduce self-confidence particularly when located on visible parts of the body.

How scars are formed

Scarring is a natural process that happens when the skin repairs itself, for example from a cut or an abrasion. (also see: Instant Help Cuts and Grazes)
They occur when the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis is cut and the injury extends to the dermis. The organism is not able to replace the destroyed, highly specialised tissue in the same way.
Instead, the wound is “repaired” with connective tissue: In order to heal this wound or injury, the body produces a larger quantity of collagen to repair the broken and damaged skin tissue. Collagen serves to ‘bind’ the broken skin together, helping to close and heal the area.

AS SOON AS YOU GET A
MINOR WOUND OR SCRAPE,
YOUR BODY WILL START
HEALING IT.

Even after the wound has healed the body continues to direct collagen to the site resulting in changes to the size and shape over time. The resulting scar does not have good blood circulation, is sometimes uneven and is less elastic.
Scars can sometimes be raised areas (hypertrophic scars) or have a sunken appearance, depending on the damage done to underlying layers of skin and tissue. Also, variations in colour are possible.

Wound closure with newly formed, pink skin and vessels © Hansaplast
Raised or hypertrophic scar; © Hansaplast
Back to top

TREATMENT

How to best treat a wound and prevent scarring

Leaving wounds uncovered or using standard plasters and bandages usually leads into formation of a scab which can lead to unsightly scars. Nowadays there is a lot can you do to ensure fast and speedy recovery if you have suffered from an impairment to your skin – all thanks to new technologies and medical insights. Be smart and make the best of these scientific insights. We have integrated them into our Hansaplast Fast Healing plasters, so that you don’t have to worry about scarring anymore.

Healing wounds the advanced way –
with moist wound healing
The best way to treat a wound is to keep it covered with a plaster that provides moist wound healing conditions at all times. Why is this better than letting your skin heal in dry air?

  • It will speed up the repair of your skin.
  • It will prevent scabs from forming. 
  • Because it will keep your wound supple.
  • Because it will reduce the risk of scarring and ensure beautiful healing.
  • Because it is skin friendly.

Want to know more? Read “5 good reasons for moist wound healing” here.

How does Fast Healing support wound healing, prevent scabs and reduce the risk of scarring?

Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that under moist conditions, wounds can heal faster and scab formation is prevented. This is because moist wound healing, which is used in hospitals for many years, promotes cell growth and migration and ensures that essential proteins stay in the wound, generating optimal conditions for wound healing. Hansaplast Fast Healing, based on advanced Polyurethane technology promotes up to two times faster healing (compared to dry wound healing or untreated wound) and actively helps to prevent scarring by restoring the natural moisture level of the skin. In a moist environment, scabs are prevented, which inhibit the formation of new tissue. If wounds heal without scabs and the wound healing process remains undisturbed, the likelihood of scarring is decreased and results in improved aesthetic results.
Fast Healing should be left for several days for continuous wound healing. © Hansaplast

So moist wound healing is the optimal treatment to repair your skin, because...

  • it provides a moist environment so that no scab forms, allowing cells to move and divide quicker
  • it allows the wound to heal up to two times faster compared to dry wound healing or untreated wound
  • it improves the overall healing process, since it keeps the wound moist
  • ensures that removing or changing your plaster remains painless
  • Due to the Polyurethane Technology, it is ensured that the wound pad does not stick to the wound
  • it is proven to reduce the risk of scarring, leading to a better cosmetic result after small injuries (and even after minor operations or mole removals.)

 

 

Want to know more?

Read “5 good reasons for moist wound healing” here.

Do you know which is the difference between Moist vs Dry Wound Healing?

 

 

When a wound is healed remaining uncovered and untreated, then the skin is getting dry, a crust is formatted and the wound delays being healed. The risk of scarring is also unavoidable. Moreover, the exposure of the wound to the air, may dehydrate the wound, bringing it in contact with bacteria or creating unhealthy conditions of healing that may provoke different kinds of infection.

The wound remains untreated and dehydrated. © Hansaplast
On the other side, moist wound healing provides your wound the chance to be healed under optimal conditions because cells grow, divide and migrate at an increased rate. This speeds up wound healing by up to 2 times compared to dry wound healing, and can renew your skin itself, reducing significantly the risk of scarring and infection. There are different technologies and products that may help you create the optimal wound healing conditions like Polyurethane Technology that the Fast Healing Plaster has itself. The Wound healing ointment is also appropriate to heal your wounds safe, properly and up to 2 times faster compared to dry wound healing or untreated wound.
Creating moist wound healing conditions is easy: With the Fast Healing Plaster; © Hansaplast

Clinical Studies

The efficacy of the Hansaplast Fast Healing plasters has been proved in clinical studies.
Download Studies
Klopp R et al., Journal of Wound Care 200; 9(7):319-324
Mensing H. et al., Aktuelle Dermatologie 2003; 29:230-235
Schmidt, A. et al., Treating. Journal of Wound Care 2001;10(5):149-153
Wigger-Alberti W et al., Journal of Wound Care 2009; 18(5):208-14
A Hansaplast Fast Healing patch can be left for several days. Changing a plaster too often may interrupt the wound healing process. Hansaplast Fast Healing plasters are designed to be comfortable to wear, as they are breathable, skin friendly and suitable for sensitive skin.

Learn how to reduce scars

It is still not possible to completely remove scars once scarring occurs, but there are some effective methods to reduce them so that you can feel `happier in your own skin´ again.
Here are some things you should know:
Avoid solariums or UV-rays when the scar is still fresh. The influence of light can affect the healing process and change the skin’s colour and structure.
Always keep your damaged skin soft and smooth after wound closure with the help of skin cream.
Applying Scar Reducer to an existing scab will also help. If used regularly and according to instructions, it will reduce the visibility of raised and red scars within eight weeks.

Expert Tip - Hansaplast Scar Reducer

“No scar can ever be completely removed and treatments will always leave a trace. However, Hansaplast Scar Reducer offers a product designed to reduce thickened and reddened scars and to make them less visible. The Hansaplast Scar Reducer plaster will reduce elevated and coloured scars if applied regularly over a period of eight weeks. They encourage the skin‘s own regeneration process by creating an ideal skin climate: The temperature level produced in the scar tissue increases. Enzyme activity and metabolic processes are stimulated to activate restructuring in the scar tissue.The Scar Patches are made of skin-friendly polyurethane material and breathable.“

“HANSAPLAST SCAR REDUCER
WILL EVEN WORK ON OLDER SCARS. TRY IT!”

Treatment can be started as soon as the wound healing is completed. However hypertrophic (raised) scars can be reduced even if they are very old.”

* Klopp R et al. Effect of four treatment variants on the functional and cosmetic state of mature scars. Journal of Wound Care 200; 9(7):319-324

Carsten Hartkopf, Research & Development Beiersdorf AG
Scar reducer remodels scar tissue by activating temperature and pressure
Back to top

SOLUTIONS

You might want to try these products:

Fortunately, it’s not difficult to prevent some scars and reduce others. Keep your wound covered and moist. Hansaplast has a range of specially developed plasters to choose from:

The Hansaplast Scar Reducer minimizes the visibility of new and old scars by flattening, lightening and softening scars permanently. 

To promote up to 2 times faster healing and reduce the risk of scarring, consider the Hansaplast Fast Healing Plaster for your everyday wound.
Back to top

PREVENTION

It’s not easy to prevent minor wounds and scrapes. Trip over a curb, mishandle a dull kitchen knife, and before you know it you‘re bleeding.

Tips

  1. When using sharp tools, be especially careful and if necessary, wear protective gear.
  2. In the kitchen, chop away from yourself and remember that sharp knives are actually less dangerous than blunt ones as they will pass through the object smoother.
  3. Pass scissors with the sharp ends pointing away from the person you are giving them to.
  4. It is not possible to avoid all cuts and grazes, so make sure to have a well-stocked first aid kit at home. Find tips on what it should contain here.
Don't pick at scabs. Right after you get a cut or scrape your body starts healing the wound. White blood cells attack infection-causing bacteria. Red blood cells, fibrin, and platelets create a clot over your wound. And in no time, a scab forms. If you pick off the scab, you may not only reopen the wound and introduce bacteria, you could also create a larger scar.
Back to top

Always see your doctor if the wound is deep, bleeding or shows signs of infection like reddening, swelling or warmth. 
Also make sure to seek medical help if you are not able to clean the wound properly.
In case you have diabetes a proper wound care is of special importance. Always discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor and/or podiatrist, even for the care of minor wounds and skin cracks – especially on your feet.
 
Please note that none of the above given tips or recommendations substitute medical advice. Carefully read the instructions for use given in our products‘ packages. Important: consult a health professional in case of any uncertainity of treating your wound properly.
 
The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care or advice. If you have or suspect a health problem, you should consult your doctor. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read on this website.

For further information regarding Hansaplast products, please contact us via email on phc@beiersdorf.com. Carefully read the instructions for use given in our products‘ packages.

Related Products

Please note that, although they were compiled with great care, the tips and advice given on this website by no means substitute medical advice and treatment. If you have or suspect a health problem, consult a doctor and follow medical advice, regardless of what you have learned on this website. Always read carefully and follow the instructions for use or the leaflets of our products.
For further information, please contact us via email at Hansaplast@Beiersdorf.com