Falls, abrasions, insect bites, or surgical sutures will leave some wounds on the body.
Many people are convinced of a saying: when there is a trauma, you can't eat soy sauce, which will make the wound black and leave a scar.
Does soy sauce really make scars more visible? Life Times interviews experts to unpack the factors that lead to melanin deposition in wounds and teach you how to reduce scars.
Experts interviewed:
Shou Yanhong, Resident Physician of the Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Li Xiaobing, chief physician of the Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital
Soy sauce does not leave scars on wounds
Skin color is mainly determined by the melanin secreted by melanocytes, and the formation of melanin is affected by a variety of factors, including genetics, sun exposure, hormone levels, etc.
The "suspicion of being involved in black sauce" mainly comes from its two components, amino acids and tyrosinase.
- The amino acid component does not promote the formation of melanin. The black color of soy sauce is derived from the caramel pigment it contains, and even if it is absorbed by the body, it is not transported to the skin.
- Tyrosinase cannot tolerate strong acids, and regardless of whether the soy sauce contains tyrosinase or not, it will be inactivated by gastric acid when it enters the stomach, losing its biological activity that can catalyze chemical reactions.
The color of the food does not affect wound healing. The skin at the wound is darkened because the skin cells are damaged, which activates the activity of tyrosinase, which leads to the production of melanin, which makes the skin look a little dark. As skin cells gradually repair, melanin slowly breaks down until it disappears.
Whether the wound heals well or not, whether there will be a scar, mainly depends on the size of the wound, the degree of infection, whether the debridement and suture during the treatment process are done, whether the anti-infection is in place, and the nutritional status of the human body.
The "culprit" of melanin pigmentation
The scar is usually pink when it first appears, but as it grows, it gradually becomes brighter or darker, and there are generally three factors that cause melanin.
Hormonal level disorders
Hormonal imbalances within the body can affect skin tone, such as estrogen, which stimulates the synthesis of more melanin.
If you work under pressure and stay up late for a long time, it may lead to hormone level disorders in the body, resulting in the proliferation of melanocytes, abnormal melanin secretion, and then inducing pigmentation.
Ultraviolet stimulation
During wound healing, if the skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays for a long time, the activity of melanocytes will be enhanced, and excessive production and accumulation will occur, resulting in the darkening of the skin surface.
When going out, wear sun-protective clothing to cover the injured area, and if you have a wound on your face, it is recommended to wear a hat and mask, or apply sunscreen to the healed area.
Chronic skin inflammation
The damage causes the skin to become congested and inflamed, and various inflammatory factors increase. During inflammation, melanocytes increase at the wound site and transfer melanin to surrounding keratinocytes, where melanin granules are deposited in the epidermis or dermis.
In addition, artificial colors, preservatives, etc., contained in some foods or beverages, may have an irritating effect on the skin, prompting melanocytes to produce more melanin and form scars.
How to make the scar lighter
Scar formation is inevitable, what can be done to make the wound heal quickly and the scar less noticeable?
Treat wounds scientifically
If it is a small, superficial wound with little bleeding that does not require suturing, such as abrasions, scratches, cuts, etc., the wound can be cleaned with water or normal saline, and then disinfected with iodophor, and then moisturizer applied.
If the wound is large and deep and bleeding is profuse, it is recommended to press the wound with gauze or a clean towel and send it to the doctor immediately.
Seek medical attention for sutures if necessary
Suturing allows the subcutaneous layer, dermis layer, and superficial layer of skin to be aligned and the wound to heal. For wounds that are eligible for suturing, suturing is smaller than the scar left by not suturing.
- For wounds in obvious areas, such as the face, it is recommended to give preference to a plastic surgeon to make the wound recover more aesthetically.
- If the initial debridement and rough sutures have been completed in the general emergency department, the sutures can be removed at the plastic surgery department within 24 hours for a second plastic suture, and good results can be obtained.
Maintain good habits
- Eating less foods such as mutton, chili peppers, and green onions may cause congestion and accelerate scar growth;
- Minimize irritants, such as light, makeup, etc.;
- Frequent pressure massage can hinder the blood circulation inside the body and reduce the formation of scars. Press the scar with your fingers or palms for 5~10 minutes three to four times a day.
Avoid peeling off the crust
After the wound is scabbed, be sure to let the scab heal and fall off on its own, and do not tear the scab by hand, otherwise it is easy to cause secondary damage.
Source: Life Times