Bio-Oil helps improve the appearance of all scar types. It is also highly effective in helping to maintain the elasticity of scar tissue on joints and other high-mobility areas.

Applications

Bio-Oil should be massaged in a circular motion into the scar and surrounding skin, twice daily, for a minimum of 3 months. Younger scars have a greater chance of improvement within a shorter time period, however, older scars will also benefit from the regular use of Bio-Oil. On new scars, Bio-Oil should be applied only once the wound has healed, and should never be used on broken skin.

What is a scar and how is it formed?
Scars are an integral part of the healing process and result from an imbalance in the production of collagen at the wound site. Scars go through numerous changes as they mature, but they are permanent in nature. Bio-Oil is specifically formulated to help improve the appearance of scars, but will never remove them entirely.

The development of a scar consists of 4 phases:

1. Haemostatic phase
This phase begins immediately and lasts a few hours, as the wounded area attempts to restore its normal state by constricting blood vessels to control bleeding. The injured cells release thromboplastin, which activates clotting and allows the healing process to begin.

2. Inflammatory phase
Redness and swelling that appears for a period of 3 or 4 days is a visible indicator of the immune response as white blood cells cleanse the wound of debris and bacteria.

3. Proliferative phase
This phase begins around day 3 and continues for about 3 weeks. Three different processes occur simultaneously in this phase to close and bind the wound:

Granulization - cells called fibroblasts create collagen to fill the wound
Ephithelialization - a layer of skin is provided to cover the wound
Wound contraction – the wound is pulled together in an attempt to minimize the defect

4. Maturation phase
This ‘remodeling’ phase begins around day 21, and may continue for approximately 2 years. Collagen fibers are re-arranged according to the stresses placed on the area, determining the final nature of the scar. Scar tissue generally exhibits only 70-80% of the tensile strength of normal skin.