How to Massage Scarred Skin Safely to Improve Healing and Reduce Tightness

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Your healthcare professional may have mentioned that massaging a scar with a repairing cream promotes epidermal reconstruction and improves the final appearance of your scar. Discover our tips to massage your healing skin.

Why massage your scar?

Massaging a scar helps to reduce the formation of adhesions. What are adhesions? They are fibrous bands of tissue connecting the scar to an underlying bone or organ. They can cause sensations of tightness and, if the scar is near a joint, impede mobility. Massaging healing skin makes it possible to soften the skin and limit this phenomenon. Discover more advice to take care of your damaged skin.

When should you start massaging a scar?

You should generally wait around 3 weeks after surgery before thinking about massaging your scar. This period allows the skin to heal and close. Your doctor will let you know when you can begin massages. If necessary, they can refer you to a physiotherapist. 

Before massaging your scar, be sure that:

 The wound is closed.

The healing skin is not infected: no inflammation, no oozing scab.

DISCOVER CICABIO RANGE TO MASSAGE YOUR SCAR

What is the vitro-pressure test?

The vitro-pressure test is a test that gives you an indication of how mature a scar is and whether you can proceed with massaging. 

The test is simple: just press on the scar with your finger for a few seconds.

If the colour returns to the skin in more than 3 seconds: you can massage your scar.

If the colour returns to the skin in less than 3 seconds: it is still too early to start massaging.

Caution! The vitro-pressure test does not, under any circumstances, replace the advice of a healthcare professional. Only they can decide whether your scar can be massaged.

Scar massaging technique

To be effective, you should massage your scarring skin one to two times a day, for five to ten minutes, using a topical repairing cream.

Before massaging your scar:

Wash your hands

Cleanse the scarred area gently and pat dry

Sit in a position where you can comfortably access the area to be massaged

The 3 steps of scar self-massage techniques

Flat hand massage
Massage flat with the whole hand in the direction of the scar.
Massage by local friction
Using your fingertips, make small circular movements on the scar.
Palpate and roll massage
Grab folds of skin between your thumb and forefinger and slide your fingers along the scar.

Did you know?

The massage may be uncomfortable, but it should never be unbearable. Should this be the case, reduce the pressure on the scar or the duration of the massage. Keep in mind that both the pain and the itching of the scar will decrease as the days pass.