A scar normally consists of tissue produced in the wound during repair: a process of new cells and blood vessels forming while older ones wither and break down.

Damage to the skin causes a wound. As it is a fragile process the more severe the injury the more complicated the healing.

The wound begins to heal. If the wound is deep, the body will lay down a protein called collagen to repair the damage.

In some cases too much collagen is laid down and the wound becomes permanently red or raised. These are the scars that CICA-CARE^◊ has been shown to improve in the majority of cases.

There are areas of our body more vulnerable to red, dark or raised scars like the upper back, shoulders, under the breast, chest, upper arms, face, neck and abdomen. Skin colour can also make people more prone to severe scarring.

To prevent scarring, always cover and protect wounds, preferably with a moist wound healing dressing from your pharmacist. Taking extra anti-oxidant vitamins like Vitamin C can help. CICA-CARE^◊ is also proven to effectively treat scars that are the result of wounds that have already healed.

Many more details on scar prevention and treatment along with links to further help can be found at the Scar Information Service web site.

There are a number of therapies for scars used by doctors - mostly dermatologists and burn specialists. Some of these like surgical methods require hospital treatment. Whilst others, like medically proven CICA-CARE^◊, can be used at home to improve the appearance of red, dark and raised scars.

Treatments that require hospitalisation can be painful and traumatic which is why more people are choosing treatments that can be used at home.

Surgery	Surgical removal of a scar in the hospital or clinic, causes stress by hospitalisation along with the pain and discomfort of an operation. Scars, especially Keloid, are prone to return.
CICA-CARE◊	A painless, comfortable, simple silicone gel sheeting, medically proven to permanently improve the appearance of red, dark or raised scars in up to 90% of cases. Can be applied by yourself.
Steroid Injections	Injections under the surface of the scar. Must be undertaken regularly and are very painful. Injections can also effect wound repair.
Radiation therapy	Uses low-dose superficial radiation to reduce the scar. These can have long term side effects including thyroid cancer.
Cryotherapy	Involves freezing the scar tissue with liquid nitrogen.
Vitamin E creams	Vitamin creams can be recommended to moisturise a scar area. However, no research has shown any cream can cure scars. In fact, a recent study shows that in 90% of cases, Vitamin E cream either has little or no effect on the cosmetic appearance of surgical scars over a 12 week trial period. (Baumann and Spencer 1999).
Laser surgery	Can be used to reduce the redness of scars. Is still experimental and has little effect in reducing the height of the scar.
Cosmetic Camouflage	Cosmetic camouflage is not a treatment but can be used to disguise a scar, birth mark, 'port wine' mark or vitiligo, a condition which destroys the colour in darker skin causing white patches.
Pressure garments	Pressure Garments have been used for over 30 years to help minimise scarring and to help prevent loss of joint function after severe burns.