Acne and injury can lead to red scarring. These scars are unsightly, especially when on the face or other highly visible parts of the body. Scarred skin can never be completely healed, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, but there are methods available to reduce the appearance of red scars.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is performed at a dermatologists office. A fine wire brush or other abrasive surface is used to scrape away the topmost layer of skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. After the top layer of skin is removed, a new layer of skin will grow in its place, often lessening the appearance of red scars. Though it sounds painful, the procedure does not penetrate deep into the skin, and it feels much like a rubber-band snapping on your skin. Dermabrasion works best on small surface scars.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is useful for keloid scars, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Keloid scars are a specific type of red scar, often associated with injury. Keloid scars occur when excessive scar tissue is produced by your body after traumatic tissue injury. These scars protrude from the surface of the skin, making them very noticeable. With cryotherapy treatments, the scar is frozen off using chemicals.
Injectable Tissue Fillers
Collagen and fat can be injected into red "ice-pick" scars to make them less noticeable. Most often associated with acne, ice-pick scarring is characterized by reddish craters in the skin. Injectable tissue fillers can puff out the craters, making the skin smoother and less noticeably uneven. However, the red pigment of these scars will remain even after injections are administered. These injections must be re-administered periodically, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels remove skin layers, allowing new skin to grow. These treatments can reduce both redness and visible scarring, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center. Chemical peels are most effective against superficial surface scars and minor reddish pigmentation problems; however, deep chemical peels are occasionally used on larger scars.
Laser Therapy
Vascular laser treatments can shrink blood vessels, thereby reducing reddish discoloration, according to the University of Michigan Department of Surgery. Combined with vascular treatments for redness, CO2 lasers can treat deep scars, helping to smooth out the skin. Laser scar revision therapies are often not covered by insurance, and they can be expensive, but these methods are very effective for large, highly noticeable scars.
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