After having an operation or any in-office treatment, from lasers to injectables, your skin is more vulnerable and delicate than usual, so it requires a bit of extra TLC. Arnica is a natural ingredient widely beloved by doctors for its ability to reduce swelling, bruising and pain. If you’ve ever considered implementing arnica in your post-op skin-care routine, we have all the answers on how, why and when to use it.
What is arnica?
Arnica, also referred to as arnica Montana, is a plant that has potent benefits for skin and body. It’s “a botanical herb extracted from European yellow mountain daisies and has been used for centuries as a homeopathic remedy,” explains Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD. “Arnica is a natural anti-inflammatory and may increase blood flow, which speeds healing,” explains Palo Alto, CA facial plastic surgeons David Lieberman, MD and Sachin S. Parikh, MD. “Inflammation contributes to many post-op issues—pain, swelling, bruising—so reducing inflammation can help in all of those areas.”
Arnica is great for post-op skin care
Arnica has a range of benefits, especially in relation to post-op skin healing. It’s “shown to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties,” says Dr. Schlessinger. “Arnica has been purported to help minimize swelling, pain and bruising post-surgery.” However, he notes that studies confirming the efficacy of the ingredient have produced mixed results. “My feeling is that it has been helpful in many of my patients, but only if used early and often. Even better, it should be used prior to procedures to ‘prime’ the area,” says Dr. Schlessinger.
Washington, D.C. dermatologist Tina Alster, MD instructs her patients to apply arnica directly on the area, if the skin is intact, twice daily. If the skin is not intact, she recommends applying the ingredient as close to the area as possible. Houston plastic surgeon Henry Mentz, MD advises his patients to begin taking arnica tablets two weeks prior to surgery and three weeks post-operation.
It can be beneficial for other procedures or pain
In addition to helping heal skin after surgery, arnica can also come in handy after injections such as Botox Cosmetic and fillers, says Beverly Hills, CA facial plastic surgeon Kimberly J. Lee, MD. Dr. Mentz notes it can also be beneficial following laser treatments.
“If you would rather use a natural remedy, bruise easily after injections or are advised by your physician to avoid traditional anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, you could try a homeopathic preparation of arnica,” says Dr. Schlessinger. “When combined with other ingredients, it may help relieve symptoms of sore muscles and sprains and help bruises to heal faster.”
Oral supplements versus topical products
The experts are split on the best way to incorporate arnica into your skin-care routine following a procedure, so it’s best to check in with your doctor. Dr. Alster says she doesn’t feel oral supplements are as useful as topical formulas in this case. Dr. Schlessinger agrees and also notes that he feels “many supplements can cause allergic reactions,” whereas “the topical forms are well tolerated and provide good results if used as directed.”
On the other hand, Dr. Lee feels that oral supplements are more effective for post-surgical and post-injection patients. In her practice, the topical form comes into play if there is bruising. After surgery, Drs. Lieberman and Sachin give patients 1000 mg oral arnica tablets. “They can get them at Whole Foods or nutrition stores, as well. Pairing the topical arnica with the ingestible —taking the inside-outside approach—seems to yield the best results as far as post-op bruising and swelling,” they explain.
The benefits: reduced swelling, bruising and pain
“Arnica tablets and arnica topical can significantly reduce post-surgical bruising and swelling,” says Dr. Mentz. “It can relieve pain, speed up wound healing, and decrease puffiness.” If taken ahead of time, Dr. Lee says arnica can help prevent the bruising that happens after a procedure or it can help heal bruises when taken after. Dr. Schlessinger points to a 2010 study that found that a topical arnica ointment may help reduce bruising more effectively than a placebo or a vitamin K treatment.
Arnica can help reduce pain. Dr. Alster notes that this may be related to the reduction in swelling. “Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, arnica has been used for many years as a homeopathic option to relieve muscle pain and tension,” says Dr. Schlessinger. He adds that it’s even be used to help alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis. A 2013 study found it as effective as ibuprofen gel for hand osteoarthritis.
Expert-approved arnica products
Dr. Mentz and Drs. Lieberman and Sachin recommend prior NewBeauty Award winner Alastin Skincare INhance Post-Injection Serum ($58). Dr. Alster suggests The A Method Soothe HC Arnica Recovery Balm ($50-$140) and OcuMend Gel Pads, which patients can get through their physician.
Dr. Schlessinger recommends Eminence Organics Calm Skin Arnica Masque ($56), Naturopathica Alpine Arnica & Magnesium Gel ($34), DerMend Moisturizing Bruise Formula Cream ($30) and Teoxane RHA Deep Repair Balm Ultra-Comfort Soothing Balm ($70) for at-home care.
It’s Personal
Find a Doctor
Find a NewBeauty “Top Beauty Doctor” Near you
Select a state
State
AL
AR
AZ
CA
CO
CT
DC
FL
GA
HI
IA
IL
IN
KY
LA
MA
MD
MI
MN
MO
NC
NE
NJ
NV
NY
OH
OR
PA
SC
TN
TX
UT
VA
WA
WI
Select a state
Specialty
Cosmetic Dentist
Dermatologist
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Hair Restoration Specialist
Oculoplastic Surgeon
Periodontist
Plastic Surgeon
Prosthodontist
Vein Specialist
Select a state
Treatment
Abdominal thread lifts
Accent your Body
Acne Treatments
Alexandrite Laser
Arm Lift
Asclera
Bellafill
Belotero
Blue Light
Body
Body Lift
Botox
Botox Browlift
Brachioplasty
Brazilian Butt Lift
Breast Augmentation
Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting
Breast Implants
Breast Implants with Saline
Breast Implants with Silicone
Breast Lift
Breast Lift with Implants
Breast Reconstruction
Breast Reduction
Browlift
Butt Enhancement
Carboxytherapy
Cellulite Treatment
Cheek Augmentation
Cheek Augmentation with Fat Grafting
Cheek Implants
Cheek Lift
Chemical Peels
Chin Augmentation
CO2 lasers
Cool Lipo
CoolSculpting
CoolTone
Crowns
Dental Bonding
Dental Implants
Dimpleplasty
Diode Laser
Dysport
embrace Active Scar Defense
Emsculpt
Endermologie
Endoscopic Browlift
Endoscopic Facelift
Endoscopic Tummy Tuck
Erbium Lasers
Exilis Ultra 360
Eyelift
Eyelift with Fat Grafting
Face
Facelift
Facelift with Fat Grafting
FaceTite
Fat Melters and Fat Reducers
Fat Transfer
Forma
Fractional CO2 lasers
Fractional Resurfacing Lasers
Fractora
Glycolic Peels
Glytone Enhanced Brightening Cream
Gum Dermabrasion
Gum Lift
Hair
Hair Removal
Hair Transplant
Hair-Loss Treatment
Injectables & Fillers for Cheek Augmentation
Injectables & Fillers for Eyelift
Injectables & Fillers for Lip Enhancement
Injectables And Fillers
Injectables and Fillers with Fat Grafting
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Invisalign
Isolaz
Juvéderm
Juvéderm Volbella
Juvéderm Voluma
Kybella
Lactic Acid Peels
Laser Liposuction
Lasers
Lateral Tension Tummy Tuck
Limited Incision Facelift
Lip Enhancement
Lip Enhancement with Fat Grafting
Lip Implant
Lip Lift
Liposculpture
Liposuction
Liquid Facelift
Long Pulsed N: Yag laser
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower Body Lift
Lower eyelid surgery
Lower Facelift
MACS Lift
Mandelic Peels
Microdermabrasion
Microinjection
Microneedling
Microwave Laser Treatment
Mini Tummy Tuck
Mini-Facelift
Mommy Makeover
Nd: Yag
Neck Liposuction
Necklift
Nonsurgical Facelift
Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty
Obagi Blue Peel
Otoplasty
Perlane
Phenol Peels
Photobiomodulation
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Photofacial
PiQo4
Plasma Resurfacing Lasers
Power Assisted Liposuction
Prevelle
Pulsed Dye
Radiesse
Radio Frequency with Microneedling
Radio Frequency-Assisted Lipolysis
Red Light
Restylane
Restylane Defyne
Restylane Lyft
Restylane Refyne
Restylane Silk
Revision Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty
Salicylic Peels
SculpSure
Sculptra Aesthetic
Selphyl
Silhouette Instalift
Skin
Skin Tighteners
Skin Treatments
Slim Lipo
Smart Lipo
SMAS facelift
Smile
Smile Makeover
Smoothshapes
Straightening
Stretch Mark Treatments
TCA Chemical Peels
Teeth Whitening
Thermage
ThermiTight
Thigh Lift
Titan
Tooth Contouring
Traditional Facelift
Tumescent Liposuction
Tummy Tuck
Ulthera
Ultherapy
Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction
Umbilicoplasty
Upper Blepharoplasty
Upper eyelid surgery
Vanquish ME
VASER Lipo
Vein Treatments
Velashape
Velasmooth
Veneers
Xeomin
Search
Source by www.newbeauty.com