Scars are unfortunate reminders of old wounds and injuries. Ugly, red scars mar the surface of your skin and can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance long after your injury heals. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate scar tissue, several treatment options are available to minimize scars or make them less noticeable.
Identification
Scars form whenever deep layers of skin are torn or cut. Thicker fibrous tissue forms when the edges of the skin come together and the injury begins to heal, resulting in a scar. The size and appearance of a scar vary depending on the location, blood supply to the area, skin thickness and color, direction of the scar, and the size and depth of the wound, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Types
Skin imperfections or discolorations resulting from minor injuries, surgical incisions or skin conditions like acne are called minor scars. Burns or injuries that result in significant tissue loss may cause a contracture scar, a type of scar that develops when skin and tissue fuse together as a scar heals, pulling the scarred skin taut. Contracture scars can limit mobility if located over a joint, such as a finger, knee, elbow or neck, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Hypertropic scars are raised, red scars that may darken or lighten over time. Hypertropic scars form in thick clusters over an injury site. Keloids are thick scars that protrude from the skin and may extend past the original wound site. Keloids develop when the body produces too much collagen in an attempt to repair the skin following an injury or cut. They are often found in areas of the skin with a minimum of fatty tissue, such as the ears, face, neck or shoulders.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Treating a wound or incision as soon as it occurs can reduce the size and appearance of the scar. Using special tapes, gels or internal compression can be helpful in wound closure and healing and may reduce the ability of the skin to produce irregular pigment, according to the ASPS. The appearance of concave scars can be improved by reducing excess collagen in the scar by injecting the tissue with a steroidal-based compound. Injections may need to be repeated to maintain results. Chemical peels and dermabrasion may be helpful in reducing surface scars by removing the top layers of skin. Lasers can be used to vaporize the scar and expose underlying layers of smooth skin.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery may be needed to remove or minimize deep, old scars. Surgery is also used to reposition a scar to make it less conspicuous or to improve flexibility of the skin if a contracture restricts mobility, according to the ASPS.
Warning
Laser treatments may not be effective in treating all types of scars. Laser therapy is helpful in reducing the appearance of keloids, hypertropic scars and small pock marks in the skin that result from acne or other skin conditions. People who have dermatitis, cystic acne or psoriasis may not be ideal candidates for laser scar removal techniques, according to the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery.
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