Sun Exposure on New Scars
April 23rd, 2024
Sun Exposure on New Scars. With summer around the corner, it’s wise to review the best way to assure a well-healed scar and minimize redness. All surgery leaves a scar, including cosmetic surgery. However, cosmetic surgery scars are designed to be less visible. Most of us have either had or observed minor injuries or a scrape at one time or another. If you recall how the scar on a skinned knee or elbow changes over time, you might remember that the process requires several months to mature or fade. It is important to keep new scars protected from the sun. Permanent pigmentation is likely to occur as a result of sun exposure.
Scars on the face mature quicker than scars on the back. A freshly healed scar looks pink or red and feels hard. This is the normal appearance and feel of scar tissue within the first six weeks of surgery. New collagen that is deposited by healing cells, feels hard to the touch. In addition, the process of healing requires increased blood flow. The large numbers of capillaries make the new scar look red. Scar maturation or healing is the process by which your body changes (remodels) the collagen and the capillaries in the scar.
Fortunately this process usually cycles through to completion and results with a soft scar that is barely visible. Think of scars being a kind of Thanksgiving turkey “doneness” indicator. When the timer pops up, the turkey is done. When your scars are soft and no longer pink, you have an indication that your internal healing is also complete. In both cases it can take longer than you hope! Continued sun protection and the use of sunscreen remain to play an important role for providing protection from the harmful effects of sun exposure. These precautions have also been shown to be critical for minimizing pre-mature aging. So if you must sport a tan, make it one that you can find in a bottle, because your skin will surely thank you!
Dr. Bashioum Hosts Garden Guests: Almost Time to Plant Again
April 4th, 2024
Fondly remembering summer and it’s almost time to plant again! I had special guests visit my garden, Sushi Chef extraordinaire Billy Tserenbat from Billy Sushi and Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine food blogger Stephanie March. Of course it was an occasion that called for a glass of wine while we toured the unusual fruits and vegetables that I’m growing. I find great pleasure in sharing my harvest with family, friends and neighbors and it’s a kick to have things that aren’t available locally. Everything in the garden is edible and provides some interesting flavors for cooking. Besides the hand-grafted espalier apple trees that you see in the background of the photo, I have French white woodland/alpine strawberries called fraise des bois, Japanese Shiso and Shishito peppers, Peruvian citrus peppers and other weird stuff. Gardening is a great hobby and I find it relaxing to walk home and work outside after doing surgery. Although Lindsay rather characterizes it as “farming” rather than gardening now, due to my yearly expansion! No wonder it is ranked as the #1 hobby in America.
To read Stephanie’s Blog the “Foodie File” at Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine.
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