I’m a fainter. I’ve been to every specialist there is, and they can’t give me a concrete reason for it.
The last time I fainted, I hit my face on a cabinet, and scraped a healthy portion of skin off my upper lip. The resulting scar was a darker patch of skin which makes me look like I have half a mustache.
I don’t wear makeup, so those cover creams aren’t an option.
Will exfoliation gradually reduce the appearance of the scar? Is there anything else I could be doing to reduce its appearance besides covering it?
i can only speak from personal scar experiance, it will help lighten the scar tissue and soften it a little bit.
otherwise, I recommend just going with the scar. Scars, esp. facial scars are tough! Men dig them, women dig them. Make light of it by saying you fought off some pirates or ninjas, or that you got into a knife fight.
About 6 months ago, I got a pretty nasty burn on my wrist, due to excessive amounts of alcohol and stupidity. Another person, with the same afflictions, also suffered a burn in the same general area, although not as bad as mine.
After it healed to the point where there was no longer a scab, I’ve used the Scar Healing sheets from Band-Aid brand. I keep it on 24/7, changing it every 3 days or so. They stay on extremely well, and aren’t all that noticeable.
The scar is still red, though, and hasn’t seemed to fade in the three months I’ve been wearing the sheets. Band-Aid claims it takes 8 weeks to start seeing results, with continued improvement over time, so I’ll just keep using it until I run out.
The other person’s scar is much less noticeable than mine, and only slightly red. He hasn’t used any type of scar treatment, lucky bastard.
Mederma and vitamin E are not FDA-approved to help the appearance of scars, nor do any studies exist that I’m aware of that prove their claims. However, you might try over-the-counter hydroquinone, or prescription Retin-A or Renova; those and similiar products may lighten pigmented spots. There’s also Intense Pulsed Light, lasers, or steroid injections (for raised scars). A dermatologist would be the one to go to.
Of course, all of these treatments except the steroid injection are considered cosmetic, so insurance isn’t likely to pay.
From their site:
*Q. What types of scars will BAND-AID® Brand Scar Healing Strips visibly improve?
A. Scar Healing strips are most effective on red and raised scars. The most common type of red and raised scar is known as a hypertrophic scar. Keloid scars are also red and raised, but extend past the original wounded area. Because each individual heals differently, people also scar differently.*
It may be able to smooth out older scars, but I have no personal experience to share.
As noted, see a dermatologist if you’re really serious.
My sister had an accident when she was little thast gave her a jagged scar on her chin. She went to a dermatologist to get it taken care of. They were able to minimize the scar, but not completely remove it.
Could your fainting be because of low blood sugar?
As for the above suggestions for scarring…all are good.
My MIL’s leg was severed off in an accident and pieced back together by a surgeon and stuffed into a cast for nearly a year.
When the cast came off, the scarring was unbeleiveably horrid and looked like an angry red veiwing of the Grand Canyon from above. She has been meticuous with the Vitamin E and the various tapes and stuff the doctor’s have given her, and has only had one surgery (she should have alot more, but is too busy)since the accident and the results are amazing.
Apparently not. All systems are go, as far as that’s concerned. Some over-zealous friends had me rushed to the hospital after one incident-- I arrived about ten minutes after I had passed out, and my sugar tested completely normal. (Though my heart rate was astoundingly low.)
So, off to the cardiologist, who gave me an extensive battery of tests, Finding nothing, he sent me to a neurologist, who did another battery of tests. I can tesitify for certain that I do have a brain and it works quite well, because I saw the EEG as it was reading. Then I was sent to another cardiologist, who did yet more testing.
So, blood, brain and ticker are all functioning normally-- they can’t think of any other parts to test, apparently, because each doctor admitted to being stumped. The neurologist is trying an experiment-- he put me on Zoloft, because he said some researchers speculate that fainting can be caused by a sudden release of seratonin. I guess the Zoloft is supposed to keep it at an even trickle. (Hey, I may show up in a research paper!)
A few years ago, I had a cosmetic tattoo, or “permanent make-up” as it is also called. I had my eyebrows tattood in a nice shape and in a very light blonde color. I noticed the beautician had even lighter colors then blonde. The tattoos faded to near-invisible in three years.
Perhaps you could ask a beautician would tatto you in a way that would balance the color? Might be a very bad idea though.
Pity you don’t wear make-up. Many make-up books give tips how to make scars less noticable with ordinary make-up. Put the accent on the eyes, that kind of thing.
OTOH, I personally think a little scar is cool. On men and women. They enhance the rest of the face.
Then I was sent to another cardiologist, who did yet more testing.