How to Care for Scars During the Summer

Scars deserve special attention, especially when they haven’t undergone all phases of the healing process. In this article, we'll share how to care for scars during the summer.

Written and verified by the dermatologist Maria del Carmen Hernandez.

Last update: 26 May, 2022

During the summer, it’s important to care for scars that are exposed to the sun’s rays. Although the application of several treatments can help reduce these marks, it’s best to avoid complications due to solar radiation.

Remember that any injury that breaks the surface of the skin causes a scar. Although scars aren’t always permanent, many take years to fade. In this article, discover some recommendations you should consider to ensure that the summer doesn’t negatively affect them.

How scars form

First of all, we should explain how scars form. In general, when the skin is injured, a healing process begins that will vary in duration based on the severity of the injury.

Several phases occur from the injury until healing. The journal of the Spanish Society of Wounds details them as follows:

1. Clotting phase. This begins when you receive the wound. When the wound starts to bleed, the body blocks the drainage to stop the bleeding. A scab forms when the clots dry out.
2. The inflammation phase. After the scab forms, the immune system responds by preventing possible infections and, in turn, protecting the wound. Blood vessels dilate, thus allowing proper wound irrigation and oxygenation. For this reason, during these days, the area is red and inflamed.
3. Proliferative phase. Damaged tissue regenerates and begins to decrease in size during this phase. The body stimulates collagen formation 15 days after the injury.
4. Remodeling phase. This begins when the dermis is repaired. This stage can last two years depending on the severity of the injury and ends with the final scar.

How to care for scars during the summer

Many people consult dermatologists for scars, especially when they formed recently and summer is approaching. If the scar is white (more than a year and a half has passed), special care is no longer required. If not, it’s best to implement the following recommendations.

Wear sunscreen to care for scars

The latest updates published in 2016 by Seminars in Plastic Surgery detailed that newly formed scars (those that are less than 18 months old), are highly susceptible to UV ray damage. In particular, UV rays can cause hyperpigmentation and structural changes in the collagen matrix.

Experts recommend minimizing sun exposure by covering the scar with a bandage or clothing. Also, it’s essential to wear a sunscreen equal to or greater than 50 SPF for 12 to 18 months after the injury.

Apply moderate pressure with silicone gel sheets to care for scars

The use of silicone gel sheets is considered the first recommended line of treatment for recent scars. According to a study published by Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, silicone sheets generate a thin and flexible sheet on the newly scarred wound.

You should use these occlusive dressings during the day and at night for at least 18 hours a day for a three-month period.

Moisturize the area

You need to keep your skin hydrated so that it remains elastic enough to regenerate more effectively. Specific products can help improve the appearance of difficult scars while also moisturizing and producing an emollient effect.

You can also use moisturizing creams that contain vitamins A and E or lotions with hyaluronic acid, as they help to improve the scar. Another option is to apply petroleum jelly, which helps keep the scar in good condition due to its moisturizing power.

Massage the scar daily

To promote proper wound healing, it’s also a good idea to massage them. You can start massaging them after the initial healing period, meaning two or three weeks later.

In fact, the journal Advances in Wound Care details that it’s a highly recommended therapy to flatten and soften scars. Massages can lead to more flexible and smoother scars through the degradation of excess and inflexible collagen.

It’s important to care for scars during the summer

When the scars are recent and haven’t completed all the phases of the healing process, sun exposure can be very harmful. Therefore, it’s best to avoid direct contact with UV rays during this season of the year.

The daily use of sunscreen, added to other measures such as the application of silicone gel sheets and moisturizing products, mitigates the sun’s harmful effects. Similarly, experts recommend wearing protective clothing.