How Scars may be Healed in the Future
Scarring affects millions of people around the world and can cause pain, discomfort and even health problems.
But now there is new research going on that may hold the answer to healing scars in the future.
It might take some years but there is a new project on the go that will harness the experiences of the translucent fish - the zebrafish.
Who is funding this research into scarring?
It is a five year research project (funded by The Scar Free Foundation) and the first study of its kind in the world, combining reams of population health data with previous studies into scarring to analyse the role that our genes may play in forming and repairing scars.
The Scar Free Foundation point out that the research will help to identify which factors cause humans all to scar differently. It will also help to develop innovative treatments to improve patients' lives.
They add that scarring can cause long term emotional and physical problems including pain, itching and loss of movement, often requiring the need for frequent operations, skin grafts, cream applications several times a day and even daily physiotherapy.
Through this research, The Scar Free Foundation hope to find ways of making life easier in the future for all those who live with scarring.
What is this research into scarring?
The study is going to investigate the genetic make-up of scarring by drawing on DNA data from large groups of people. These groups include:
- Those with BCG vaccination scarring
- Children with cleft-lip surgery
- Women with C-Section scarring and
- Patients with internal lung scarring
And an important part of the project is the study of zebrafish.
This is because they are translucent and are able to regrow tissue and repair wounds quickly. Researchers will use live imaging and genetic analysis to model scar formation and wound healing. Such findings could eventually be used to better understand and repair our own scars.
Researcher Beck Richardson, University of Bristol in the UK, says: "Live-imaging studies in translucent zebrafish will allow us to see how changes to these genes affects certain cells involved in scarring and gives us an experimental window through which to watch scars being formed and to identify ways to stop this."
How to treat "less serious" scars - now
H-Scars Formula is our own safe and effective treatment for reducing scars such as:
- Hypertrophic Scars - those from surgical procedures
- Keloids - often from burns, injuries or skin conditions
- Facial Scars - safe and gentle on facial skin and
- Acne Scars - treatment for cystic acne, acne vulgaris and acne rosacea
The product is applied topically, directly to the scar so that it can help to repair and restore the skin where damaged.
Sources
Bayat A, et al. (2003). Skin scarring.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1125033/. (Accessed,13 October 2021).
Gozali MV, et al. (2015). Effective treatments of atrophic acne scars.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4445894/. (Accessed,13 October 2021).
Keloid scar. (2018).
medlineplus.gov/scars.html. (Accessed,13 October 2021).
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.