Do you massage scars? What is your experience with that?
Do you massage scars?
My dermatologists did recommend putting on a anti-scar cream or gel, 2x a day for 4 months, but didn't recommend massage,. -- Yet online I see massage is a very frequent recommendation: 3x a day or so for 5 minutes, once stitches are out.
Do any of you have any experience with this, or thoughts about this?
There are some video tutorials, that seem very professional, which demonstrate how to give very active massages.
My 1.5 inch or so scar on the neck is about 4 weeks post biopsy (2nd biopsy after very tiny 1st biopsy) and 2 weeks post stitches-removal. Apparently there was no problem with stitch-removal- the healing -if not the most invisible- is at least totally closed up, so that is not a concern, especially 2 weeks later.
If I massage gently for a few minutes that seems good, but 5 minutes may be a bit irritating and the rigorous approach doesn't feel good so far.
Of course I'll trust my "instincts" in the lack of more specific instructions, but I'm interested in hearing if any of you have any particular experience, information or thoughts on this.
...thanks for sharing this question with the community. I am also really interested in seeing what other members have to say. I have never heard of this approach. Hopefully, we will have some members chime in.
I hope your healing is going well overall and scarring is minimal! Wishing you all the best! April, SkinCancer.net, ModeratorI massage my scars. I use a recommended silicone scar diminishes. I think it helps. Massage helps break up adhesions in the scar tissue - do not do it with or on dry skin! Be gentle and firm.
Thanks!
Unrelated to a cancer excision, I had a hand operation a few years ago and once it was possible to do so I started massaging the wound as I scar easily and it seemed to help. I'm not sure about medication such as ointments and creams; maybe they help, maybe they don't but I think that mechanically breaking down any scar tissue, or stopping it forming, and helping blood flow, etc might be the key.
