Is the pink skin after a scabs falls off a scar?
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Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:53 am

I got a carpet burn about the size of a quarter on my neck about 4 weeks ago. It scabbed over and fell off and for a month now there has been a big shiny pink spot of skin where the carpet burn was. It doesn't look like it is getting any better. How long will it take to completely fade with my normal skin color and is there anything i can do to help speed it up? Also i have been putting vitamin E on it and still no progress in about 4 weeks. IS THIS A SCAR OR JUST TAKING LONG TO HEAL? PLEASE HELP ME!!! i am very worried this will scar and very sel-conscious so please give me some good news

free skin care · Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:22 pm

Those are called 'post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation' and it should heal. Everyone's skin is different, though. They can take a long time, too. You can try speading up the process by using products like Vitamin C serum or copper peptides and hydroxy acids. Your Vitamin E can help, too. Keep it out of the sun.

HTH

free skin care · Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:01 am

I would use some Neosporin on it. It should go away in time.

free skin care · Sun Nov 28, 2010 6:15 am

gribbin26 wrote:

It scabbed over and fell off and for a month now there has been a big shiny pink spot of skin where the carpet burn was.

I always thought this was just the new skin underneath a scar. I agree with Jom, just use some Neosporin and give it time.

free skin care · Sun Nov 28, 2010 6:37 am

jom wrote:

I would use some Neosporin on it. It should go away in time.

That's what I have seen for all my kids with a scab falling off (and myself) nice new pink skin. I agree it's just normal healing and the Neosporin can just help it along and protect it.

free skin care · Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:42 am

Stop using Vitamin E on your scar. Clinical studies show that topical vitamin E has NO effect, or even worsens scar appearance in up to 90% of users, and causes contact dermatitis in up to 33%.

free skin care · Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:45 am

OMG, I logged on to ask this exact question - EDS is magic, I tell you!

I also have pink skin on my cheek where my scab fell off from a fall last week. My skin is brown and the pigment isn't matching yet. I was going to ask if Arnica gel is the best thing to keep applying while it heals.

So I'll get Neosporin. And its ok to put vit c there so early? I was afraid - it seems so harsh. And how long should I hold off before allowing retin A on that patch, or is that not a good idea at all? I'm new to retin A.

Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:53 am

well mine has been like this for a month now so i think im just going to let time do its thing. as long as its not a scar? and how much longer do you think it will be pink?

free skin care · Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:55 am

There is a new product on the market just for scars. I haven't used it, so I don't have an opinion of it. I have gone to the web site and read every page and it seems to me to be a worthwhile product, but that's just my opinion. Here's the url:
www.inviciblescars.com

free skin care · Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:00 pm

If it's even a tiny bit tender I would totally avoid Retin A or LAA=Vitamin C as they are a bit harsh on the skin!

As to vitamin E not everyone agrees, but from experience I find it certainly doesn't hurt!

https://profreg.medscape.com/px/getlogin.do?remember=on&urlCache=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tZWRzY2FwZS5jb20vdmlld2FydGljbGUvNDI5MTcx

NEW YORK (MedscapeWire) Feb 28 — Although many face creams contain vitamins known as antioxidants, very few are actually effective in preventing or reversing skin damage, according to researchers speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology's annual meeting, being held this week in New Orleans, Louisiana.

"Despite advertising claims, almost all available topical formulations contain very low concentrations of antioxidants that are not well absorbed by the skin," said Karen E. Burke, MD, in her presentation. "There are 3 antioxidants that have been proven to decrease the effect of the sun on the skin and actually prevent further damage: selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin C."

free skin care · Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:07 pm

And here is a scientific study that says Vitamin E should not be used:

Dermatol Surg. 1999 Apr;25(4):311-5.
The effects of topical vitamin E on the cosmetic appearance of scars.

Baumann LS, Spencer J.

University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miami, Florida, USA.

Comment in:

* Dermatol Surg. 1999 Aug;25( Cool

:670-1.
* Dermatol Surg. 1999 Oct;25(10):827.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vitamin E is a generic term for a group of tocol and tocotrienol derivatives. Since the discovery that vitamin E is the major lipid soluble antioxidant in skin, this substance has been tried for the treatment of almost every type of skin lesion imaginable. Anecdotal reports claim that vitamin E speeds wound healing and improves the cosmetic outcome of burns and other wounds. Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular basis to improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend topical vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.

OBJECTIVE: We attempted to determine whether topically applied vitamin E has any effect on the cosmetic appearance of scars as suggested by multiple anectodal reports.

METHODS: Fifteen patients who had undergone skin cancer removal surgery were enrolled in the study. All wounds were primarily closed in 2 layers. After the surgery, the patients were given two ointments each labeled A or B. A was Aquaphor, a regular emollient, and the B was Aquaphor mixed with vitamin E. The scars were randomly divided into parts A and B. Patients were asked to put the A ointment on part A and the B ointment on part B twice daily for 4 weeks. The study was double blinded. The physicians and the patients independently evaluated the scars for cosmetic appearance on Weeks 1, 4, and 12. The criteria was simply to recognize which side of the scar looked better if there was any difference. The patients' and the physicians' opinions were recorded. A third blinded investigator was shown photographs of the outcomes and their opinion was also noted.

RESULTS: The results of this study show that topically applied vitamin E does not help in improving the cosmetic appearance of scars and leads to a high incidence of contact dermatitis.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that there is no benefit to the cosmetic outcome of scars by applying vitamin E after skin surgery and that the application of topical vitamin E may actually be detrimental to the cosmetic appearance of a scar. In 90% of the cases in this study, topical vitamin E either had no effect on, or actually worsened, the cosmetic appearance of scars. Of the patients studied, 33% developed a contact dermatitis to the vitamin E. Therefore we conclude that use of topical vitamin E on surgical wounds should be discouraged.

PMID: 10417589 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:33 pm

is this even a scar though? or just pink skin that hasn't healed yet? it has been one month

free skin care · Sun Nov 28, 2010 1:15 pm

Any injury does not become a scar until the wound has completely healed; this can take many months.

Redness that often follows an injury to the skin is not a scar, and is generally not permanent. The time it takes for this redness to dissipate may, however, range from a few days to, in some serious and rare cases, a few years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar

Sun Dec 12, 2010 12:24 pm

when can you post picture to forums?

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