All burns except those of the first degree leave scars. The scarring might be minimal or extensive depending on the length of time of exposure and how well the wound is initially treated. Some burn scars require simple care including proper bandaging and the application of healing medicines on the site. Other burns need more radical treatment, which often requires the intervention of a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. The good news is most burn scars can be diminished with proper treatment.
Compression and Massage
Compression bandages apply pressure to the burn site in order to keep the area as flat as possible during scar formation. These bandages are elastic in nature and some are tubular in shape to fit over injured limbs. Compression garments might be custom made for patients with a large area of burned skin.
Massage is another pressure technique used to minimize the elevation of scarring and smooth the skin in that area. You can begin to use gentle massage when the burn is in its initial healing phase. Massage can be continued through all stages of healing.
Topical Applications
In many cases, burn scars can be minimized by the application of certain topical applications. Creams that contain mineral oil or another type of moisturizing agent promote smooth healing of burns. Vitamin C can be beneficial in helping to fade the color of a burn scar. Perhaps the most helpful topically remedy for scarring is the application of silicone gel sheets, which can lessen the amount of scarring and improves the appearance of existing scars.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy for scars is a commonly performed procedure. The results can be extremely successful in many cases. Consult your physician to have him assess how you rank as a candidate for this type of treatment. The basic procedure involves movement of the laser over the entire scarred area in order to remove the upper layers of skin to reveal the more normal appearing skin below the scar. More than one laser therapy session might be necessary to achieve desired results.
Chemical Peels, Dermabrasion and Dermaplaning
A chemical peel helps decrease the appearance of burn scars because the process removes the uppermost layer of skin, which is the most damaged by the burn. The result is generally a lighter pigmented area that is closer in shade and texture to the surrounding skin. The agents in chemical peels differ, with some being milder than others. Your physician will recommend the type of peel you need.
Dermabrasion is the process of surgically removing several layers of skin to help minimize the appearance of burn scars. Dermabrasion is performed by a surgeon using a special instrument with a wire brush or diamond bearing burr attached to a handle that is motorized. This abrasive tool quickly scrapes away the skin. Your surgeon might alternately decide dermaplaning might be the best treatment for you. The dermaplane tool utilizes a quick moving blade that rapidly runs back and forth along the designated area to take off skin layers.
The experts at the Burn Recovery website recommend you find a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to perform dermabrasion or dermaplaning.
Surgical Revision
Scar revision surgery is the most invasive of all scar treatments. Surgery is performed under anesthesia at a hospital. Your surgeon will excise the scar and then reattach the skin with sutures. A new scar will form following surgery, but it will be smaller in area and placed as strategically as the position of the original burn scar will allow. Some patients with extreme scarring might be viewed as candidates for skin grafting, the most drastic of scar revision surgery. In this surgery, a piece of healthy skin is removed from a donor site and grafted onto the damaged area. If this graft is successful, new tissue and blood vessels will develop in the burned area. The Online Surgery website explains that the success of scar revision surgery depends on many factors including the size and location of the burn and how well the revised site is taken care of following surgery.
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