Scar Reduction: How to Prevent a Wound from Scarring

Medical grade honey is being used as a dressing to effectively heal wounds without the formation of a scar.

Some people think that a scab promotes healing in a wound. This is not true. A scab is dead cell material that deprives the tissue underneath of nutrients and moisture which is necessary for the regeneration of skin tissue. Scabs prevent the skin from growing flush with the surface of the skin and, therefore, are the cause of scarring. New skin tissue grows underneath the scab at a lower level than the rest of the skin. When the scab falls off, the new skin tissue that grew underneath remains at the lower level, creating deformity of the skin. In order to prevent scarring, a wound has to be treated properly from the beginning, allowing the new skin to re-grow flush with the level of the rest of the skin.

A breakthrough in wound care has been discovered utilizing a special type of honey known as Manuka Honey. This medical grade honey is produced from the nectar of the Manuka bush which is indigenous to New Zealand. Manuka Honey provides a moist, healing environment that is not only effective in healing wounds efficiently but also lifts scabs away from the surface of the wound.

Manuka Honey contains vitamins, nutrients, amino acids and sugars which play a role in collagen synthesis for the reduction of scars. Manuka Honey also creates a protective barrier around the newly grown skin which prevents scabs from forming.

In addition to preventing scars, Manuka Honey provides the following benefits for wound healing:

• A moist and sterile environment conducive for the regeneration of skin growth;
• Antioxidant activity that decreases that amount of destructive free radicals;
• Anti-inflammatory properties which help to reduce swelling and relieve pain;
• Debriding action that allows easy detachment of scabs and dead tissue;
• Increases in blood circulation to the wound;
• Osmotic effect that draws exudate and impurities from the wound;
• Reduction of wound odor by preventing ammonia production;
• Antibacterial properties that heal infection.