I’m no stranger to scars. I have several from previous surgeries; such is life as a spoonie, or someone with chronic illness or pain.But last year, I spent nearly 10 months in a medical intensive care unit and five months on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) life support. My lungs and heart were failing. A tracheostomy tube in my neck connected me to oxygen support, and the Velcro collar that held it in place clawed at my throat, dotting it with puncture wounds. Meanwhile, the ECMO’s large tube sewn into my right internal jugular vein aggressively tugged at my raw skin. Twice I was awoken in the middle of the night by blood streaming across my face and pooling beneath my chest.Thanks to a lifesaving double lung transplant from an organ donor, I made it out alive. Still, for months when I looked into a mirror, I saw more than my face. I saw fear. I saw pain. I saw reminders of the most traumatic experience of my adult life.“Our skin has a tremendous ability to heal itself from different types of trauma, but there are limits to how well we can heal,” said Chris G. Adigun, a dermatologist and owner of Dermatology & Laser Center of Chapel Hill in North Carolina, in a phone interview. And facial- or trauma-based scars like mine are linked to higher reported rates of anxiety and depression and PTSD.I reached out to my dermatologist, prepared to lay down some cash if it meant my anxiety would be eased. But she threw me a curve ball when she suggested I buy ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets, which are widely available at drugstores. They made a huge difference for me, but note that none of what I’m about to say is medical advice, and you should consult your doctor before starting any treatment.