When a patient has a facial injury, it can be devastating
for them. If a face is disfigured or
has a problem, there is essentially no way to ignore it. The
face is the first thing you see when someone approaches you.
Facial Wounds
The good news is that in today’s world plastic surgeons are
able to repair facial injuries to the point that most will become
unnoticeable. There are multiple options
to heal facial scars, even without a surgeon’s aid. If someone was involved in an auto accident
or a similar situation that injures their face, here are some suggestions to
offer-
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Be sure to keep the wound clean and moisturized
with vitamin E oil
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Rub E oil on the scar 3-4 times per day, this
helps avoid a scar that is raised off the skin.
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For multiple scars, a dermabrasion, or several dermabrasion
treatments can reveal fresh healed skin.
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If the scars are significant, a chemical peel
may be the answer, however be sure the actual wound is healed completely prior
to a chemical peel.
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Apply a think lotion or cream to the wound and
keep it very moisturized, this will be of great benefit.
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If nothing works, consult a plastic
surgeon. Much of the minor work they do
can be done in a day and on an outpatient.
Muscle Injuries of the Face
When a patient has a stroke, it can cause paralysis of the
facial muscles, usually on one side. The
eye may droop, and the mouth can slope down on one side. In addition, vision may be affected in the
lazy eye, and with the mouth drooping, it can cause slurred and delayed
speech. With many of the symptoms of
stroke, the patient has the option to attend physical therapy. In most cases they are able to regain
strength in their facial muscles and return to normal. The sooner they engage in physical therapy,
the more likely they are to gain control of the facial area muscles.
Bells Palsy
Bells Palsy is a condition that is sometimes confused with a
stroke. Unlike a stroke, there is no
injury in the brain. This is a temporary
condition, although it has been known to leave permanent results. This condition can strike at any age, however
most likely affects those over 50. Tests
will need to be conducted to determine that it is not stroke related, and therapy
may be needed to re-gain muscle control.
Fever Blisters
It may sound minor, but put you in the place of a teenager
and it won’t be. Fever blisters are not
always confined just to a lip. They can
spread, particularly if immunity is low or compromised. Many people continuously get fever blisters
anytime there are sick. There are over
the counter medications that can be used to help stop the spread of the virus
that causes fever blisters, and the sooner its used, the better the
results.
Shingles
Shingles look somewhat like a fever blister; however, it
goes down into the nerves. Because it
generally covers a wide area where it strikes, it can look as bad as it feels
if on the face. Shingles should be
examined by a physician, although little can be done, it essentially has to
work its course. The good news is, there
is now a shingles vaccination that prevents shingles. This is recommended for anyone over the age
of 50 that has ever had chicken pox.
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Acne
Acne does not necessarily end after teen years are
over. It can continue throughout life,
and it can be embarrassing to have a huge zit on the end of your nose. Washing the face very well can help, and if
necessary, a doctor can prescribe a medication to speed up healing time from
acne.
Facial malformations always look worse to the person that
has it, than to anyone else, which is understandable. Assuring the patient that odds are great
their face will return to normal, and noting progress each time they are seen,
can make a big difference.
Don’t dismiss a patient’s concerns on a face injury. It’s
serious to them and they need encouragement, not dismissal.
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