face laceration

My son was cut on his face (1/2 to 3/4 in.) above his lip, to the side of his nose.  His teeth went through his cheek so the cut is larger on the inside.  The ER doctor used dermabond on the outside, which is starting to come off after 4 days.  He is also on an antibiotic.  What do you recommend to minimize scarring in this area?

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

There are lots of over the counter topicals that can be applied to scars.  One of the best is silicone gel.  However, the reality is that scars are a function of location of the injury, genetics of the individual and with time, will mature and resolve.  Scars appear their angriest at one month after injury and can take up to one year or more to fully mature. Use of sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight reduces migration of pigment cells into scars, which can make them more visible.