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• Method 1 of 2: Treat the stitches at home
• Method 2 of 2: Get a professional treatment

Scars usually develop after a deep cut or wound, or after surgery, and they require good care and daily cleaning to avoid scarring the stitches. The reaction of the skin can vary considerably from person to person, and sometimes a scar forms after stitches; however, there are ways you can limit the visibility of the stitches and prevent permanent scarring.

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Method 1 of 2: Treat the stitches at home

1. Make sure the stitches are covered and clean during the day. While you may think it's best to let the stitches breathe because it helps them heal faster, this will slow the healing process by up to 50 percent. Moisture and wetness can ensure that no scab can form, making the wound less likely to heal or even causing the wound to become infected. Use a dry, sterile bandage to cover the stitches during the healing process.
   • Your doctor may prescribe your antibiotic ointment or recommend that you buy an ointment. These types of agents reduce the risk of infection and allow the stitches to heal faster.
   • Put on a clean bandage each time you apply the ointment to the stitches. If you have already used the ointment for a week, you can switch to petroleum jelly, so that new skin growth is stimulated to grow over the stitches.
2. Use silicone pads to allow the scars to heal properly. Apply constant pressure to the sutures by using silicone sheet pads, such as those from Dermatix. This can help the scars heal and flatten scar tissue.
   • Most silicone pads can be cut to the shape of the scar.
3. Do not put vitamin E or hydrogen peroxide on the scars. Although many people believe that vitamin E helps to heal wounds, studies indicate that vitamin E wounds are correct not to cure. Some people also get an allergic reaction from vitamin E. So rather apply an ointment with a medicinal effect on the wound, or an ointment with antibiotics on the sutures, than vitamin E gel.
   • While hydrogen peroxide can help clean open wounds or cuts, it is also known to stunt the growth of new cells and slow down your body's healing process.
4. Protect the stitches from the sun by using sunscreen. The sun's ultraviolet light can damage your stitches and slow down the healing process. Apply well, including the scars, and do this every morning before going out.
   • Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30.
5. Massage the area once the stitches have healed. By massaging you loosen any layers of collagen that have attached to the underlying tissue.
   • Gently massage the area with body lotion for 15 to 30 seconds several times a day in a rotating motion.

Method 2 of 2: Get a professional treatment

1. Have the stitches removed within a week. Ask your doctor if the stitches can be removed before scars appear, which look like little bumps on either side of the cut. If possible, have the doctor remove the stitches after a week so that there are no permanent scars.
2. Talk to your doctor about laser treatment. A more radical professional option is to undergo a laser treatment to have the scars removed. If the laser treatment is applied to a young scar within six to eight weeks of the wound formation, it can provide effective treatment for the scar and cause the scar to disappear. There are two types of laser treatments:
   • The pulsed dye laser: this is a non-ablative laser treatment that uses an intense, short laser radiation; fractional emission of laser light in ultra-short pulse durations. The heat is then absorbed by the blood vessels in your skin, which improve the structure of the skin and the thickness of the scar tissue. Any red spots around the scar can be reduced by this treatment.
   • Fractional ablative lasers: In this treatment, small holes are made in the scar using the laser beams. This stimulates the production of collagen, which usually has the effect of making the scar less noticeable. This type of laser treatment is recommended for superficial scars.
   • Most laser treatments consist of several treatment sessions, and cost approximately between € 250 and € 750 per session, unless reimbursed through health insurance.
3. See your doctor if the stitches become red, irritated, or swollen. If you have any of these symptoms, as well as a fever and an increase in pain around the stitching site, see your doctor. Your stitches may be infected or you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the antibacterial cream.
   • Your doctor will then need to view and treat the stitches so that they do not become further inflamed and that no further complications occur.