Wound Care Question - Has anyone used Silicone Scar sheets/ Scar Away?

Sara2010 · 29-07-2014, 01:18 AM

I asked my dermatologist today if there was anything I could do about these scars I'm stuck with. She told me some surgical cosmetic options that are possible, but also suggested that I first try a silicone scar sheet. I bought scar away from my local pharmacy; they are supposed to help flatten raised scars and lesson the discoloration.
I've convinced myself to try these things on my most noticeable and ugly scars (even though I struggle with the idea of my scars fading). I am going to devote at least the next sixty days to seeing if I can reduce my scars' thickness, and I will also try to make myself use bio-oil on the numerous white scars that apparently I have no other options in removing.

Have any of you ever used this product, or a silicone patch similar to it? I'm not sure what to expect, and I'm curious if anyone else has gotten any positive results from the product. I am going to try to take before and after products to see whether or not they made a difference.

talaiporia · 29-07-2014, 01:28 AM

I used a silicone gel (Dermatix), and it did make a huge difference quite quickly, but it is super expensive. I think they only fade pink scars to white; they're supposed to stop scars forming as much (like raised) if used early, but if they're used later on, they tend to just help speed up the healing process.

I didn't really find much of a difference with Bio-Oil, though I know it's been backed up with research so it must help somewhat.

Sara2010 · 29-07-2014, 01:55 AM

Even if they just become white, I think that would be an improvement for me. They are extremely dark purple and noticeable during the winter when it's cold out. More pink in the summer. The thick scars are a few years old :/. Guess I have to take what I can get.

I've had the bio-oil in my room for ages but I never use it because it is so oily and it tends to get everywhere, and feels messy to me. I've heard many positive reviews though so I should try to find a way to use it. These kinds of remedies are very dependent upon being used consistently and over a long period of time.
For about two months right after I stopped cutting, I would use Mederma religiously, 2-4 times a day. This did improve many of the small affected areas that I treated. Idk, should I go back to using that on the surface ones? The ones on my thighs never really got treated, just the ones on my arm so my arms look much lighter than my thigh does. I guess I should just treat both.

I'm having a hard time with this. I got so excited and happy after buying the Scar Away, but there is almost a bit of anxiousness in me about the fading. I want them to fade, and yet in some ways it feels a bit triggering to me when I watch them go. I know this is what is best for me, and I am going to make myself follow through. I just wish I didn't have the conflicting feelings about it. Maybe I'm scared of change, I'm not sure. I loathe them, but I am also somehow attached. This is a struggle I know I must face in order to grow.

Any advice on the silicone is greatly appreciated. Also please send me prayers or well wishes (send them out into the universe haha :P ) since this seems to be a little difficult for me. I'd love to hear all of you guys' favorite effective products.

Animad · 29-07-2014, 07:19 PM

Sometimes the changes are really slow that you don't see them and think the product isn't working when it may be and therefore, just to see whether that products best for you or maybe it may be worth trying something else, it may be worthwhile taking weekly photos of the area just to see the progression/ how the scar is looking.

I'm going to move this thread to Self Injury Discussion purely because it fits there better as that looks more at personal experiences and as well as that, if left in first aid it is bordering on breaking the rules as you've already seen your doctor regarding this.

If you would like it moving elsewhere then feel free to PM the forum mods about this.

KimA

Sara2010 · 29-07-2014, 09:05 PM

I don't see how this is breaking rules. A doctor suggested it, and I was curious about other people's experiences. But I suppose it doesn't matter where this thread is located. I hadn't even been at the doctor specifically for this, I just mentioned it on the fly and it was her suggestion. She also suggested other options I chose not to pursue at the moment due to cost.

Anyway, I started them last night. I can already tell they are going to become an annoyance because they are chunky and noticeable. Apparently they tend to fall off too so I have some medical tape to hold them into place. I've got about 4 on the same arm, and it draws your eye to the area, which I definitely don't want to do. Considering putting on an ACE bandage over the whole area when I go out in public since that is much easier to explain, I can just say I hurt myself lifting weights instead of telling people I'm trying to remove self harm scars. So embarrassing, I was so embarrassed to have her look in the doctor's office. But she was very kind and non judgmental. I'm sure as a skin doctor she sees much worse on a regular basis.

I took about a million 'before' pics to track the progress of this product and the bio oil on my scars as well as stretch marks and scars from other things besides SH. Tried to get different angles so I could really assess the changes. Thickness is hardest to capture in a photo, but I did my best. I don't think I will take any more until the end of the first month most likely because staring and assessing the marks so closely was a bit triggering for me. I can't look for that long. I start to think how they aren't bad, and 'it was never a problem' and things like 'i even suck at self harming'. I know this is stupid, but my mind just can't help to think like that. But I'm continuing to say no, and continuing in my recovery. I hope one day I can feel blessed that my marks 'don't look that bad'. Ten years from now they might be almost disappeared. I'm lucky enough that I might have that chance, I was lucky enough that I only have a few keloids. Sorry, I tend to ramble haha.

If I see progress, maybe I can post the pictures of my success with the product. Not sure if that's allowed. Of course I will have to review the rules before I do that. I just know I love visual examples of how these kinds of products work where you can see before and after. If not, I can always post on tumblr for others looking into the product.

talaiporia · 31-07-2014, 04:15 AM

I don't think that was what was meant, just that this tends to be the best forum for scars advice and stuff. There's some threads in here (including the stickies) that are pretty good.

I know it's a bit late, but I used actual silicone gel, which was much more manageable as it dries. I actually did just used it on one arm to test it and that was annoying in hindsight, and now there's a noticeable difference between the two, so it does work.

Animad · 31-07-2014, 07:09 AM

I didn't mean to cause any upset, I just felt that FA wasn't the best place for threads on scar fading and most of them are moved to here. Basically, from a first aid point of view, once a cut heals then that's it done with, scars really aren't within that remit and often better replies on things like healing them/ other methods such as cover up makeup can be found here. As said, if you want it moving back to the FAF then feel free to PM a mod or PR a post in here and ask for the thread to be moved back.

In terms of my scars, I did a similar thing to Talaiporia. I used bio oil on an area of scars on my leg but left an area in a similar location with similar scars to track the progress and see.

In terms of taking photos, no more often than every week is what I'd say is the best because then you get to see a bigger change between each, you also don't get triggered or desensitised to them as much but you can still effectively track the progress. Between 1 day and the next the difference between a scar is going to be negligible but as the timespan increases it'll be greater.

Many of the silicon scar reducer sheets are, I believe, just to be used for 12hours a day and so you could wear them at night (that's what a lot of people I know who have got scars for a variety of reasons in a variety of places, do) and so you don't gave as much problem with them bring bulky/ people noticing/ them interfering.

Sara2010 · 31-07-2014, 10:31 PM

Not upset, it's all good :) I understand your reasoning.

I'll try out the once a week to take pictures. Maybe just one or two of each area.
And overnight can definitely account for a lot of the 12 hours, so that's a good point. I'm also not working at the moment so I'm strapped for cash and can't really leave my house all the often anyway. Seriously need to motivate myself on that job search lol. But it's beneficial for using the sheets. Always looking for the positive hahaha

talaiporia · 02-08-2014, 03:04 AM

I hope they help and you start to see a difference soon. :)

Retrosimplicity · 07-08-2014, 08:15 AM

I wouldn't be able to tell you because they were so annoying. They fell off my arms so many times that I just gave up. Hopefully persistence will help.

lord of luck · 07-08-2014, 08:23 PM

Vitamin E oil from walgreens works and is less expensive. my scars are fairly superficial, but I have a couple that have scarred a dark pink/purple that I wanted to fade out a bit. it works but takes a couple months. since we're nearing the end of summer maybe that's ok with you tho--and the gradual change is nice when you're apprehensive about losing the scars, it takes time and even when they're white they're still noticeable to me. just less scary.