The Best Scar Treatments

Skin's remarkable ability to heal itself allows it to close the gap made by cuts, replace tissue destroyed by burns, and mend after surgery. But the resulting fibrous tissue, while tough, isn't always attractive. Scars can take the form of smooth white or pink marks, pitted areas of the skin, or raised, discolored scars called keloids. Scar treatments aim to reduce the appearance of scars or to remove the scarred area altogether.

Silicon

Clear sheets of silicone gel may help flatten and reduce the appearance of some scars. You'll need to wear these sheets over the scar twenty-four hours of day for a period of weeks for the best results.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion works on the surface layers of the skin, scouring the skin with an abrasive substance to polish the skin and promote new tissue growth. Dermabrasion can reduce or eliminate the appearance of small scars. It's a popular choice for treatment of acne scarring on the face.

Lasers

Lasers treat scars in different ways, depending on the type of scar and the type of laser. A laser can remove the top layer of skin to expose healthier skin underneath. Or doctors use lasers to stimulate collagen growth to fill in pitted skin, such as facial skin scarred by acne. Lasers can flatten raised scars and remove discoloration from keloids, making them less noticeable. You may need several treatments for your scars.

Punch grafts

The University of Chicago Medical Center lists punch grafts as one treatment for small scars, particularly acne scars. A surgeon punches out the scarred area of skin, much as you would use a hole punch on a sheet of paper, and fills in the resulting hole with skin taken from another area of the body.

Surgery

Surgical scar revision cuts away the scar tissue and encourages healing with no or minimal scarring. People with raised keloids, hyperpigmentated scars and scars that bind or inhibit movement choose this option to improve their appearance and gain mobility. The surgeon excises the scar tissue and monitors healing of the area to minimize new scarring.