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cvbmom
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| Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 6:48pm | IP Logged
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Hello,
We just got back from a big FLL (First Lego League) tournament, which is exhausting enough  , but while there our 15 month old fell and cut open her forehead requiring 3 internal stitches and 9 external. Needless to say, I missed a lot of the tournament 
Anyway, the cut is right across the center of her forehead. Does anyone have any suggestions for something I can do to prevent or reduce scarring?
Thanks!
Christine
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 6:57pm | IP Logged
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i've always heard vitamin E is good to help with that.. oh and keep it out of the sun.. good sunscreen etc.
and she can wear bangs
I had one of my little guys scar his forehead like that.. and it's really less noticable than you'd think. Of course it's also less of a problem for boys.. but just saying it really isn't as obvious as you'd think.
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jawgee
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| Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 7:12pm | IP Logged
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There are scar strips you can buy. The plastic surgeon highly reocmmended them to my mother when she got a cut on her face.
My youngest got a cut between her eyebrows last year and I think Vitamin E did wonders for it.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 7:14pm | IP Logged
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Ditto vitamen E and sunscreen all the time. You can buy the vit E gel caps and use a pin to poke a small hole in them. Then squeeze out the gel and apply twice a day. Does wonders (don't ask how I know... )
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Christine
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| Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 7:18pm | IP Logged
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In addition to vitamin E, aloe vera and raw honey are also supposed to reduce scarring. Unfortunately, two of my boys haven't let me put any of these three things on them.
While the stitches are in, keep putting bacitracin (or neosporin) on the the wound. Once the stitches are removed, start applying the vitamin E, aloe, or raw honey.
Based on personal experience, I would wait 6 to 7 days before having the stitches removed. One of my sons had his stitches removed after 5 days and the wound reopened, leaving a larger scar.
She is young and her skin is still supple which might mean that the scar will eventually be almost unnoticeable. Bangs are great.
Prayers for your little girl and you.
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cvbmom
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| Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 9:14pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for all the prayers and suggestions
I'm supposed to wait 7 days for stitches removal, but my doctor is closed Saturdays, so it'll probably be 6 days. I also had trouble in the past with my son getting stitches out too soon.
So with the vitamin E gel, should I start applying that post-stitches, then? I think that's what I'm hearing from everyone. I may also investigate the scar strips. She's not one to keep bandages on, though.
At the hospital, they had said to just dab it with salt water 3-4 times a day and keep it open to the air. To me, that seems like it'll dry out the skin. I followed these instructions with my son, who had stitches recently near his lip (as Jodie said, it's not such a big to-do with boys - scars are "cool" to them). Anyway, the skin was dry and removing the stitches was painful for him. That's why I wanted to do something different this time with dd. Keeping the skin moist and supple seems more logical to me.
Now if I can just keep her from bumping, falling, or re-opening the wound...  ... she's an active kiddo.
Thanks again,
Christine
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 9:48pm | IP Logged
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I used this on my csec scar as soon as the staples were out. Country Comfort Baby Cream
It's an herbal antibiotic.. so you'd use it instead of the neosporin mentioned above and it has some of the good oils too.
Now I had a good doctor who did an outstanding job on closing. And it's not near such an easy to see scar location.. but it's practically invisible.
We use this in place of neosporin types on EVERYTHING.. plus for diaper cream.. plus for any sort of rash (like from friction or whatever).
Never had a problem with any of it and it's gentle and doesn't hurt other than the pressure of applying.
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: Dec 07 2012 at 7:36am | IP Logged
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I worked for a dermatologist for a while and one of the best things I discovered there is that if you keep the wound moist, it will not scar up as much, if at all!
And I experienced the same thing with a cut on my finger - while it originally healed, it made no scar tissues, but I was keeping it damp, unintentionally. When I later had plastic surgery on it (the nerve had actually been damaged and the first doctor didn't know it so didn't repair it), the second doctor didn't say anything about keeping it moist - and now I have this nasty thick scar right across the inside joint of my middle finger - and it presses on the nerve. GRRRRR.
So as someone else said - keep the antibiotic cream on it those first few days; once the stitches are removed (I'm guessing they already are based on the date of this thread ;) ) - keep it moist. It will take a lot longer to fully heal - but in that time, it will be healing slowly and carefully.
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cvbmom
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| Posted: Dec 07 2012 at 1:41pm | IP Logged
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Stitches came out today. It was tough on her (and me!).
Anyway, I kept it moist with antibiotic cream as best as I could. Now she's got sani-strips on it since it opened up a bit when they took out the stitches. I can't even get to the cut to keep it moist. As soon as the strips come off, I am going to keep vitamin E on it and keep it as moist as I can for healing. I have some of Jodie's suggested cream on the way, too.
Hopefully she'll not re-open the wound anytime soon. We've had some VERY close calls already this week. She must have a very busy guardian angel!
God bless,
Christine
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wifemommy
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| Posted: Dec 07 2012 at 3:00pm | IP Logged
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If it is any consulation any scars will fade. My dd had over a hundred stiches on her forhead as a 10 month old. Today as a freshman in college she has long straight hair no bangs and a barely noticable scar. I was dilegent with sun screen and hit or miss with vit e oil. Annie
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: How to prevent scar on forehead?
