Scar Reduction Treatments

Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process after injury.

Various factors influence how your skin scars. Of course, the depth and size of the wound or incision and the location of the injury are going to impact the scar's characteristics. But your age, heredity, even your sex or ethnicity, will all affect how your skin reacts.

Scars form when the dermis (deep, thick layer of skin) is damaged. The body forms new collagen (a naturally occurring protein in the body) fibres to mend the damage, resulting in a scar. The new scar tissue will have a different texture and quality than the surrounding tissue. Scars form after a wound is completely healed.

To find out more about Laser Skin Treatments visit www.laserderm.co.uk

Laser Skin Treatment for scar reduction using NdYag Laser

 

Skin creams and gels

There are certain over-the-counter or prescription skin creams or gels available on the market that claim to soften or fade scars, but there is limited clinical evidence to suggest that they are effective.
There are, however, gels and dressings that can help reduce keloid scarring immediately after surgery. These contain silicone and have been shown to reduce the formation of this type of scar. Some studies have also shown that other treatments, known as retinoids, may help to reduce keloid scars if used regularly for three months however retinoids in order to be effective have to be used in high concentration which can cause side effects and highly photosensitise skin.
 If you are under the care of a plastic surgeon and your scarring is the result of cosmetic or plastic surgery, ask your surgeon for his or her recommendation if over-the-counter treatment is sufficient; otherwise, he or she will prescribe which treatment best suits your personal case. Often, treatments can include Laser Therapy which penetrates much deeper than any creams or gels producing great results with minimal patient downtime or discomfort.

Laser Scar Reduction Treatment

Laser Scar Treatment is clinically proven to effectively reduce mild scarring. A laser (which is a beam of high-energy light) is used to stimulate the growth of new collagen and elastin fibres that fills out the scar. Additionally it reduces post inflammatory pigmentation in some cases. This procedure is a great alternative to a pain and discomfort of surgical treatments or invasive laser resurfacing and takes about 30 minutes depending on the size of the treated area. Several treatments are necessary to achieve desired improvement. Laser Treatment carries no risk of compilations as often reported with invasive laser or surgical procedures.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels remove the outer layers of your scar and stimulate the growth of new tissue. Different types and strengths of chemical peels are available. Chemical peels containing glycolic acid or lactic acid aim to improve and smooth the texture of superficial scars (ones that aren’t too deep). Stronger peels containing phenols or trichloroacetic acid can help treat deeper scars that reach dermis. Chemical peels are the most effective when used in combination with Laser Scar Reduction Treatment or Dermaroller Therapy.

Dermabrasion

This treatment involves the removal of the surface of the skin by means of a rotating wire brush or an electric razor to skim off layers of your skin. This is invasive procedure which can take up to an hour and is often done under local anaesthesia. You may need to have ointment and a dressing placed over the treated area for several days if needed. Dermabrasion is useful when the scar is raised above the surrounding skin but it is less useful for the treatment of sunken scars
An alternative to dermabrasion is non-invasive microdermabrasion, which uses tiny crystals to remove the surface layers of your skin. It’s most suitable for removing acne scars and doesn't require anaesthesia, but you may need multiple treatments to achieve desired results.

Steroids

A steroid-containing tape can be worn day and night for extended periods, or a strong steroid injected directly into the scar can help soften, flatten and shrink scar tissue. Steroid treatment can be used alone or in combination with other treatments to help reduce the appearance of a raised or red scar. Injections may help to soften the appearance of keloid or hypertrophic scars.

Surgery

Surgery can help reduce the size of your scar, reposition it or reduce it’s tightness to make it more comfortable. Sometimes this involves cutting out your scar and replacing it with a skin graft from a healthy part of your body. If a skin graft is used after a scar is removed, you will always have a different patch of skin there instead of the scar. All new scars will be initially red and gradually fade over six to 24 months. Surgery is not recommended in cases of hypertrophic or keloid scarring (raised scars) because there is a risk of recurring scars as well as more severe scarring that results from the treatment.