Scar Treatments For SkinCare

Scar Treatments For Skin Care

Looking at a woman's scars is like taking a walk through her history: There's the one she got when she fell off a bike as a kid, the one left by a cesarean section. Although some scars are barely noticeable or covered up most of the time, prominent scars especially on the face can be problematic. Scars from injuries, surgeries, acne, and other traumatic effects are likely unhappy reminders as well as cosmetically unsightly. And while in the past people had to live with their scars, today, there are many options for making yours less noticeable.

A scar is a mark that is left on the skin after a wound or an injury to the surface of the skin has healed. Scars are very common most people have at least one on their body. They are a natural part of the healing process. Scars can occur inside and outside the body. For example, they can occur on the internal organs where a cut has been made during surgery, and can develop after certain skin conditions, such as acne and chicken pox.

How do scars form?
When the skin is wounded and there is a break in the body’s tissues, the body produces more of a protein called collagen as part of the healing process. Collagen builds up where the tissue has been damaged, helping to heal and strengthen the wound.

For a period of about three months or longer, new collagen continues to form and blood supply increases, causing the scar to become raised, lumpy and red. Some collagen then breaks down at the site of the wound, the blood supply reduces and the scar gradually becomes smoother, softer and paler. Although scars are permanent, they can fade over a period of up two years. After this time, it is unlikely they will fade any more.

Skin wounds can be caused by many things, including:
• Accidental injuries
• Surgery
• Burns and scalds
• Intentional harm

Preventing Scars
It is not possible to prevent scars from forming, but there are things you can do to help your scar be less visible and heal better, such as immediately cleaning dirt, objects and dead tissue from wounds.

Other ways to improve scarring include:
• Avoiding scratching or picking at scabs and spots
• Covering wounds with a waterproof ointment (such as Vaseline)
• Using silicone gels or sheets to reduce redness and encourage healing

Although scars cannot be removed completely, they can often be made less visible. However, more research is required to assess the effectiveness of the different treatments.

Corticosteroid injections
Corticosteroid injections are used to treat some keloid and hypertrophic scars. Multiple small injections are made into the scar to reduce any inflammation (swelling) and to flatten the scar. Depending on the type of scar, these may need to be repeated. Usually injections are given on three occasions at 4-6 week intervals to assess your body’s response. Sometimes treatment may continue for several months if the scar is improving. This treatment cannot remove scars, but it can improve their appearance.

Silicone gels or sheets
Silicone gels or sheets are available from some pharmacies. They are used on healing skin (not open wounds) to reduce redness and try to minimise hypertrophic or keloid scars. To be effective, silicone gels or sheets should be placed over the scar for 12 hours a day, for at least three months. You can ask your GP, dermatologist or pharmacist for further advice about a range of silicone-based scar treatments.

Over-the-counter creams, ointments, or gels. These products can be used to treat scars that are caused by cuts or other injuries or wounds. If you are under the care of a plastic surgeon and your scarring is from cosmetic or plastic surgery, ask your surgeon if over-the-counter treatment is an option. If not, there are prescriptions that may help.  Often, treatments can include steroids or certain antihistamine creams for scars that cause itching and are very sensitive. Likewise, if you have scarring from severe acne, ask your dermatologist for advice. Your doctor can also recommend or use pressure treatment or silicone gel sheetings to help treat scars or as preventive care.

Surgery
Sometimes, surgery can improve the appearance of scars. Surgery can be used to:
• Change the positioning of the scar
• Change the width or shape of the scar
• Release a tight scar that is close to a joint, to improve movement

Be aware that having surgery on your scar will leave a new scar that will take up to two years to improve in appearance. If surgery is used to treat a hypertrophic scar, there is a risk that the scarring may be worse after the surgery. Some plastic surgeons also add other treatments, such as X-ray therapy and oral antibiotics to try and minimize recurrence of a keloid that has been surgically treated. You can talk to your surgeon about this.

For some pitted scars, laser surgery (laser re-surfacing) is used. This involves using a laser to remove the top layers of skin, stimulating collagen production in the deeper layers to try to make the scar flatter.

Pressure Dressings
The aim of pressure dressings is to flatten and soften scars. They are most often used for large burn scars or after some skin grafts. Pressure dressings are usually made from a stretchy, elastic material. They are worn over the scar 24 hours a day, for around six to12 months. They can also be used in combination with silicone gel sheeting to improve the appearance of scars over a long period of time. Pressure dressings are usually used under specialist supervision.

Make-up
Cosmetic camouflage (make-up) can help cover up scars and can be particularly useful for facial scars. Some are waterproof and can stay in place 2-3 days. Camouflage make-up that is specially designed for covering up scars is available over the counter at pharmacies. Alternatively ask your GP for advice.

Note: that camouflage color testing (to get a good color match for your skin type) can be a lengthy process, sometimes taking over an hour, and needs to be performed by somebody who is qualified.

Other Treatments
Laser or light therapy (pulses of light) can reduce the redness in a scar by targeting the blood vessels in the excess scar tissue. Dermal fillers are injections (often of a man-made acid) used to 'plump up' pitted scars. Treatments can be costly and the results are usually temporary. Repeat treatments are needed to maintain the effect.

Skin needling, which involves rolling a small device covered in hundreds of tiny needles across the skin, is also reported to be helpful, but repeat treatments are often needed to achieve an effect and results vary considerably.

Myotcstore Related Products:

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