Skin Healing: Most Effective Dietary Supplements

Healing is a natural process of skin repair following an injury or procedure, aimed at restoring skin integrity. The healing process comprises three main phases: • Inflammatory Phase: As soon as the injury occurs, inflammation is triggered, attracting immune cells to clean the wound. • Proliferative Phase: During this stage, fibroblasts produce collagen and other components to form new granulation tissue. • Maturation Phase: Collagen reorganizes, improving the strength and flexibility of the scar, often over several months.

Types of Scars

Scars vary depending on the healing process: • Normal Scars: Thin and not very visible, resulting from uncomplicated healing. • Hypertrophic Scars: Thicker, appearing due to excessive collagen production, often reddish and raised. • Keloids: They extend beyond the initial wound borders, forming sometimes painful or itchy protrusions. • Atrophic Scars: Often concave, they occur when the repair tissue is insufficient, such as acne scars.

Factors Impacting Healing

Several factors can hinder or delay healing, including: • Age: Older people heal more slowly due to reduced cell regeneration. • Health Condition: Chronic illnesses (like diabetes), malnutrition, and smoking negatively affect healing. • Infection: Presence of bacteria in the wound prolongs the inflammatory phase, delaying the process.

Managing Healing

For optimal healing, different approaches exist: • Trace Elements and Vitamins: Zinc and silicon supplements are recommended to support collagen synthesis. Vitamin C, essential for collagen, also plays a key role in healing. • Dermocosmetics: Silicone-based creams, often available in pharmacies, help flatten hypertrophic and keloid scars. • Natural Therapies: Use of aloe vera and essential oils like fine lavender helps soothe the skin and promote regeneration. • Surgical and Aesthetic Care: In some cases, interventions such as laser or microdermabrasion may be indicated to reduce persistent scars.