Alcohol interferes with the healing process of scar by dehydrating the body. A dehydrated body leads to dry skin. Our skin cells and immune cells are the cells that promote the healing and they require a moist environment to seal the wound and ignite the healing process. With dry skin, the skin cells and immune cells are more concerned with fighting to gain moisture to cover the wound than to fight the battle of closing or lessening the color of a wound. Alcohol reduces the healing process by dehydrating the skin, reducing skin elasticity, and inflaming the scar site.
You may have had the question of “Why does my scar turn red when I drink alcohol?” Alcohol also can interfere with the healing process by turning your scars red. When alcohol is consumed and the scar becomes red this is the direct cause of vasodilation in the blood vessels. Vasodilation is the body's natural response to low levels of oxygen and/or the increase of body temperature. When alcohol is consumed and the scar becomes red this is the body's way of telling you it is not receiving a healthy level of oxygen or that it is overheated. This interferes with the scars healing process by limiting the amount of oxygen flow to the scar site leaving it inflamed and overheated. An inflamed scar is more often than not an angry scar. To minimize the inflammation or prevent it entirely, is it best to avoid alcohol consumption during the scar healing process and focus on keeping your body thoroughly hydrated.
At Biodermis our 100% medical grade silicone products create an ideal healing environment by maintaining the appropriate balance of moisture and maximum exposure to oxygen. Our silicone gel sheeting, silicone-based products, and our patented Pro-Sil all create a semi-permeable layer over the skin that allows oxygen to penetrate while holding precious moisture in, creating the optimum oxygen and moisture balance for healthy skin.
If you have any questions on scar care assistance or which product would be best for you, please feel free to contact us at 702.260.4466. If you have any concerns such as when to start using silicone scar sheets, we always recommend consulting your doctor to have them look at your scar and make sure the wound is fully healed prior to silicone use. We look forward to helping you with your scar care needs and new scar care regimen!
~ Article contributed by Riona Scafa
