Scars are a natural part of healing. Whenever you suffer a scrape, cut, burn or other injury to the skin, there's always the potential for scarring. The deeper the wound, the more likely you'll develop a scar. But the depth of the injury isn't the only factor that contributes to scar tissue. The thickness of your skin, the direction of the injury and the blood supply to the wound can also influence scarring. With all of these factors coming into play, the type of scar that forms can vary greatly from person to person, which has some bearing on your treatment options.
Step 1
Cover the affected area of skin daily with a thin layer of scar cream. Creams containing silicone are by far the most effective, advises the American Academy of Dermatology. This ingredient reduces the thickness of scar tissue, making the scar less noticeable.
Step 2
Dress the scar with a pressure bandage. Sometimes, you can minimize the thickness of scar tissue by regularly dressing the injury site with a pressure bandage. This can take a number of months to improve the appearance of a scar.
Step 3
Level raised scars with steroid injections. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, injecting steroids directly into the affected area can level the raised scar with the rest of the skin by impeding the overproduction of collagen. Steroids are also beneficial for reducing redness and pain associated with scarring.
Step 4
Undergo dermabrasion. With this procedure, the surface layer of your skin is sanded away. This can help recontour the shape of the scar, while stimulating the production of new skin cells, explains the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. These new cells are closer in color and texture with the rest of your skin, reducing the signs of scarring.
Step 5
Remove scar tissue with cryosurgery, suggests the American Academy of Dermatology. In this procedure, the injury site is exposed to a freezing agent, which kills the excess scar tissue and thereby reduces the size of the scarring.
Step 6
Talk to your doctor about scar revision. If other methods fail to improve scarring, you may need as surgical procedure to improve the appearance of your skin. Surgical scar revision entails extracting the scar tissue and then suturing the incision site to minimize the new scarring.
Tips and Warnings
- Instead of dermabrasion, you can choose to use a chemical peel to recontour and reduce the appearance of scarring. Chemical peels also remove the surface layer of your skin, causing new skin growth along the injury site that is similar in color and texture to the rest of your skin. If you develop a depressed scar, it can be filled with a cosmetic filler, like hyaluronic acid or collagen. The filler levels the depression with the skin, but results are temporary. Additional injections are needed every three to four months to maintain the improved appearance.
Things You'll Need
- Silicone cream
- Pressure bandage
Member Comments