A scar can be the telltale sign of a C-section delivery. It often is raised and discolored. Sometimes it's painful. No treatment can restore your skin to the way it looked before surgery. But you can treat a scar at home to improve how it looks.
Your C-section incision is about six inches long. Your doctor has to cut through your skin, fat, and muscle. A scar forms over the wound after it heals. Your scar may be thicker than the rest of your skin. It also might appear pink, red, or shiny.
Several things affect wound healing and how noticeable your C-section scar is likely to be. They also affect how well it responds to treatment. They include:
- How long the incision took to heal
- Your age
- Your genetics (how you scar is something you inherit from your parents)
Products to Make Your Scar Less Visible
Scars often fade over time, but they never go away completely. If your C-section scar bothers you, some simple home remedies for scars during and after the healing stage will help improve its appearance. Try using these common products:
• Petroleum jelly (Vaseline): You want to keep the incision moist and covered. That's the best way to help reduce scarring after a C-section. A number of scar creams can do this. However, research suggests you can do just as well if you put petroleum jelly on your scar and keep it covered. Petroleum jelly keeps the scar from getting too large, deep or itchy. It’s also important to apply constant pressure to the scar with a bandage. This helps keep the scar flat.
• Silicone gel: Putting a sheet of silicone gel over your incision site is also effective. These sticky, clear sheets help keep the scar moist and covered. This leads to scars that are softer, thinner, and less red. After the incision heals, cover it completely with the sheeting. You can leave it on all day, but remove it when you take a bath or shower. You can reuse the same sheet for several weeks. It probably will take at least two months before you see a difference. Silicone gel may be especially helpful for raised scars. You can buy silicone sheets at most drug stores.
• Vitamin E or onion extract: Vitamin E or onion extract may help the scar less noticeable. Studies have shown that these substances reduce or prevent raised scars by blocking the growth of scar tissue. Vitamin E and onion extract may not work as well for raised scars that form in places other than your incision site.
• Honey: Honey may reduce skin inflammation. According to researchers, honey seems to help new tissue formation. It may also reduce scarring or prevent scars from becoming raised. However, experts say more study is needed on these possible benefits, so you should check with your doctor before you try it.
Techniques to Reduce Scarring
Besides applying products, there are other things you can do to ease scarring. They include:
➧ Massaging your scar: Once your incision has healed, gently massage the area. This can help soften the scar. Massage can break down the scar tissue that forms below the skin. When you massage, use a mild moisturizing cream. Massage it around your scar a few times each day. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to see improvement.
➧ Limiting time in the sun: A scar that's healing will get darker and more noticeable if it gets sunburned. So keep your scar out of the sun for least six months after your C-section.
➧ Not waiting: Time matters when it comes to scars. To make your scar less visible, treat the wound as soon as it heals. If you wait too long, a doctor may have to use a more invasive procedure to treat its appearance. That would be the case with older scars too.