Avoiding Scarring After Your Facial Mole Removal

Shave incisions are commonplace when people have moles on their face and want them to be removed. After the excision you might be concerned about whether you will have a lasting scar, but luckily, there are some actions you can take which can prevent scarring from happening. Use these tips to ensure your face doesn't permanently scar from the mole removal procedure.

Leave the Bandage on Your Face

Because the mole was on your face, you might be self-conscious and not want to wear a bandage on your face for days and days. If your doctor has put a piece of gauze, bandage or other protection on the site where the mole was, you might be inclined to take it off right away. It is vital that you know that bandages and gauze can encourage new cell growth that will allow your skin to recover nicely. If you uncover the mole site, you could dry out that part of your face; there is some evidence that moist wound healing is a good idea. Instead of removing the bandage, you might opt to spritz it with water to keep it moist in order to facilitate healing. If you allow the excision site to be open to the air, you could very well be setting yourself up for a nice scar.

Avoid Vitamin E

If you're like many people who are eager to find natural cures for all kinds of procedures and health issues, you might have read that vitamin E was good for the skin. However, in the case of an open wound such as your face after a shave incision, that vitamin could do more harm when topically applied than good. One research study showed that a large majority, some 90% of test subjects treated found vitamin E had zero effect on scars; in fact, according to that study, scars became even worse after application with vitamin E.

Leave the Scab Alone

You might see scabbing at the site where your facial mole was removed. Scabs are a natural way for the body to protect itself as it recovers from trauma. If you mess with the scab, you could end up causing bleeding that could result in some kind of scarring; instead, let the scab form and serve its purpose. Don't go picking at it.

Using the advice in this article can help you prevent facial scars as a result of your shave incision facial mole removal procedure. Consult an experienced dermatologist (like those at Associated Skin Care Specialists) if you have questions about how to protect your skin in the future.