You always have a scar on your body, whether it is from an accident, surgery or unknown reason. Scars are the outermost part of our body that manifest what has happened to us at some point in life.
Some can be considered as lucky not to have one while some unlucky enough to have those facial scars due to acne and pimples. For whatever reason the scars developed, whether you choose to remove it is your discretion.
But there are ways of removing scars on the body and face. It all depends with your choice on which treatment will suit best according to what type of scar you have.
How Do Scars Form?
Scars form on the skin when it heals after an injury. New skin grows to replace the injured tissue and also repairs the damaged tissue underneath.
This process makes scars thicker than normal, healthy skin on top of where the scar is. Scars will typically fade over time and become less noticeable, but some scars will remain permanently.
Scarring can be classified in many ways. Physicians classify scars by their texture, where they are located on the body, and their shape.
Some common types of scars are:
- Atrophic or sunken scars lie below the surface of the skin. These are often pitted with a surface that feels like coarse sandpaper or tinsel. Atrophic scars are sometimes referred to as “ice-pick” scars.
- Keloid scars are raised above the surface of the skin and may extend beyond the original wound. Keloids reach beyond the boundaries of an injury, forming thickened, velvety areas of fibrous tissue. These types of scars form when tissues over-repair themselves following an injury.
- Hypertrophic scars are raised scars that form when the body produces too little collagen, causing wounds to heal without filling in with new tissue. Hypertrophic scars can be pink or red at first, but fade over time. Areas of the skin affected by these types of scars may not feel flexible and smooth, but they do not pose the same risks of skin cancer that keloids may.
- Contracture scars form when tissue heals in a shortened position, causing either an immobile area of skin or restricted joint movement. These types of scars usually develop after burns or other injuries that cause scarring. Contractures can limit a person’s range of motion, which can lead to pain and stiffness.
How to Manage Scarring
Scars are not always permanent. Whether they remain visible or fade to nearly unnoticeable depends on the severity of scarring. Treatment options for scars depend on their location and appearance, how old they are, and other factors.
Some people do not want to try treatment because it can take a long time, require multiple treatments, or may not produce results. Surgery is not always a possible option for others, so they may turn to other methods.
Inflammation from the injury that caused the scar often contributes to further damage and reduction in skin quality.
Either way, methods to reduce scarring may include:
1. Medications
Topical corticosteroids can be used to soften scars and treat keloid formation. Corticosteroids need to be applied regularly for several months or more before results are visible.
Silicone gel, which is available in sheeting, gels, creams, ointments, and tapes, may reduce the appearance of scars and lead to smoother skin.
Meanwhile, a special medication used to treat keloids is imiquimod cream, which is applied daily for six weeks or more. Imiquimod cream is used to help reduce the size of a keloid and decrease itching and pain from the skin condition.
2. Light Treatments
Light treatments can be used to treat a range of scars, particularly atrophic and hypertrophic scars. These treatments work because scar tissue has a different biochemical makeup from normal skin tissue.
Laser resurfacing can help smooth out atrophic scars by reducing their depth. Intense pulsed light (IPL) can also be used to improve the appearance of hypertrophic scars, which are elevated above the skin’s surface.
3. Scar Removal
A professional laser scar removal machine can remove all layers of the scar with a laser. It can also be used on many types of scars, including keloids and hypertrophic scars.
During a laser treatment, a beam of light is directed to the scar and penetrates deep into the skin. The laser emits a series of pulses lasting just a fraction of a second, allowing it to remove scars without damaging surrounding tissues or healthy cells.
The key to preventing scars is preventing injury or wounds in the first place. Once they happen, it becomes difficult to manage them effectively. While there are many options for managing and removing scars, some surgeries may cause additional scarring during recovery.
In some cases, improving overall health can help reduce the risk of scarring, which includes eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. It is important to consult with a doctor about the best treatment options for any type of scarring before beginning a new treatment plan.