Scars

Dear Dr. Jen,

My little girl is constantly scraping her knees. I am a keloid former and wouldn't want her to have any big scars on her knees when she grows up.  How do I take care of her wounds?

Ana

Dear Ana,

Keloid formation does run in families, and can be ugly especially over the joints.  This is due to an over production of fibrous scar tissue.  Scars on young children, however, tend to heal better than do pubescent and adult scars, and that is an advantage.

After administering first aid, by cleaning the wound and applying clean dressing, next order of business is checking her immunization record.  Tetanus vaccine or booster should have been given.  Using antibacterial cream (like mupirocin or fucidic acid) over the wound may ensure that it won't get infected and healing will take place at a normal rate.

Superficial wounds will speedily evolve into a scab which will fall off by itself.  After the scab disappears, application of scar creams that can lighten or flatten scars should be applied right away.  Sun protection on the scars should also be observed to prevent darkening.

Dear Dr. Jen,

When do you diagnose a patient to have acne versus pimples?  I get the some pimples once in a while if I am stressed and not sure if I should use anti-acne meds already.

Jo

Dear Jo,

If we are talking about technicalities, "pimples" is more or less a layman's term for acne vulgaris.  Full-blown acne vulgaris can be used as an umbrella term for people who consistently get pimples, whether mild, moderate or severe.

For most of us, who get an occasional pimple when it is the time of the month for our monthly cycle, or when we lack sleep, or when we are overly stressed, anti-acne medications can still be used.  Don't be distracted by the terminology.  Medications, prescribed or OTC, are still similar for both the occasional pimples and acne vulgaris.  It is the frequency of application that may be lessened for the occasional pimple-former.

Spot treatments would require benzoyl peroxide, retinol, clindamycin, erythromycin, and salicylic acid-based creams.  These are applied on an "as needed" basis.  If you are very sensitive to these ingredients, you can also head over to your PDS derma and get an injection for your pimple.  This will magically help your pimple subside in 2 to 3 days.   This will also be most helpful if you have an event to attend and do not want that pimple staring at everyone in the face.  Hope this has answered your question!