By Erika Reeves and Ross Ashcraft
Do you have a scar that you do not like?
We all have a small scar here or there or maybe even a large surgical scar from a Cesarean section or a major surgery? Would you like to lessen the appearance? I personally have one from a tummy tuck that drives me bonkers.
Our skin is an absolutely amazing organ. When the skin is damaged by a cut, burn, puncture or any other type of injury, it immediately begins protective action. The body quickly starts forming a scab to protect the body from outside bacteria. Scabs form within 3-4 days and should fall off within 10 days. It is after the 10 day mark with the scab falling off that that it is important to start the techniques show below work. Depending on the extent of the injury, our skin will be in repair mode for 3 months to a year.
There are two different types of scars.
Immature Scars are still painful, itchy and still usually red or bright pink. This is the perfect time to start massage applications.
Mature Scars are usually between 3-18 months old and the scar tissue is no longer being produced. Reducing this type of scar takes a lot more determination and time.
Techniques:
Cross-fiber friction:
1) Using two fingers, rub the scar in an up and down motion; and move in a perpendicular or crossways direction to the line of the scar. This helps the collagen fibers to align properly.
2) Continue for 5-10 minutes.
3) Do this 2-3 times a day until you see improvement or it looks and feels like you desire it to look and feel.
Skin Rolling:
1) Using your fingers and thumbs, lightly pick up the skin above the scar and roll it between your fingers
2) Continue this motion and roll through the scar tissue: X Direction
3) Change directions 90 degrees or perpendicular and repeat: Y Direction
4) Change directions again and move diagonal across the scar tissue: Z Direction
5) Do each direction for about a minute. The skin and scar should change color to a darker red or pink color depending upon your skin type
6) Try this 2-3 times a day until you see improvement, or the scar looks and feels like you desire.
It has taken a few weeks of doing this type of work and my scar tissue is breaking up!
Challenge: Try these techniques on any scar and describe your experience.
References:
http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/typesofphysicaltherapy/a/Scar-Tissue-Massage-And-Management.htm
http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/mt/archives/2007/07/six_massage_tec.html
Ross’s brain.com
I know this works! It even helps with deep scars that you can feel not see!
LOL I’m glad you agreeing with yourself? 😉
I’m glad to say I don’t have any scars, but I will try to find somebody with one and pass the information. My little girl is always having some little accident. I will check if she has some and will work on it this week. Thanks for the info.
I am covered in a lifetime of fun story-telling scars so I decided to try this on an older one on my thigh. It hasn’t changed much of the shape but did take the color of it away and now it is less noticable, unless you know where to look for it. So I’m pretty sure I’m in love with these techniques and will keep doing them, thank you.
I love skin rolling 🙂 I have this hideous scar on my left elbow from when i was 4 years old that is about 2 inches long. Sharon first introduced me to this and i have been doing it for about a month now. I can not really tell a difference when looking at it but i can definitely feel a difference. Great Blog Erika!
Nice! I am going to try this on a scar on my finger that is pretty thick. The skin rolling could be rather difficult on it though. Any ideas for that?
I have tried this technique on my little cousin who has scars from a barb wire fence they are about 2 yrs old but i showed her how to do this so we can see an improvement on them, I also gave her a copy of this blog. I know it is going to take awhile to see a change but we have time.
man, im covered in scars. im about to be doing this technique all over the place.
are stretch marks considered scars? If the c-section was from 21 years ago will this still work?
Yes, it should improve C-section and stretch marks. Not as noticeable on the stretch marks but the principle is the same.
Felt interesting since there usually isn’t any type of ‘feeling’ on scar tissue. I don’t have any scars that I absolutely despise but I’ll definitely let people know who do have scars they find hideous.
I have never tried this! Sounds interesting, all my scars are small so i guess i will have to wait til i get a bigger one to work on.
I didn’t know that you can reduce a scar by massage. Interesting!
I have done this to myself on a scar from having my gallbladder removed. It had attached to the muscle. In doing these things after it had healed, it got it to come off the muscle and reduced the appearance of the scar.
I have personal use these techniques on my c section scars. I am having surgery next week I had planned to use those techniques on the new scars. Good stuff!
I wish I knew about this information earlier, I have a scar on my thumb from a skateboard fall and its not very noticeable but still a scar.
This is really cool I didn’t know that you can reduce how noticeable it is through massaging.
I love the skin rolling technique. I do it all the time when I am bored and I look down at my hands and see all the burn scars on my hands from my old job. Not to mention all the little scars that I have gotten over the years. Thanks Erika for this lovely blog. I will definately be passing this along to friends, family, and clients who have those scars that they don’t like to look at anymore.
I had a scar on my bellybutton for about three months. I had a belly button ring that migrated so I had to take it out and it left a scar. I did the skin rolling off and on for about two months after it healed. Before there was a big knot of scar tissue. Now it is almost gone and it is not thick and red anymore! I was elated!
That WONDERFUL!!!
I wish I was dedicated enough to do this everyday because I definitely have some scars that I wouldn’t mind getting rid of. This will be great to keep for clients who may be embarrased of their scar or lack confidence because of one. Great job Erika!
I don’t any recent scars and hopefully wont have any new ones for awhile lol. I am still glad to have this bit of information though. I know it bothers a lot of people out there to have scars, so this will be great to pass on to friends and family and clients. Something very easy and simple and will make people feel better about themselves.
I like this blog because i work at a daycare where kids are clumsy and produce scars 😉 so i will take this technique to work with me to see how well they take it!