While scars may not necessarily be a health risk or cause for medical concern, they are unsightly and sometimes embarrassing. Fortunately, many new scars will heal nicely over time on their own, and there are multiple treatment options for older scars that may not go away on their own. Even if you can't completely eliminate some signs of scarring, you can diminish them.
Identification
It is first important to understand that scars are a natural part of the healing process. The appearance and presentation of scars is largely dependent on a number of factors, such as location and severity of the injury, as well as your age and skin tone. You should allow any scar to heal on its own for six to 18 months, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, before pursuing any intensive or extreme treatments if at all possible, as many scars will improve on their own in this time period.
Types
If you are within this six- to 18-month window and are hesitant to pursue surgical or invasive options, there are still some options available to minimize the appearance of a scar. Pressure bandages, massages and even tapes have been shown to have some effect of scars. Alternatively, a cosmetic cover-up can vastly improve the condition of smaller scars. For larger, more established scars, there are a number of options available as well, including surgical scar revision, dermabrasion, laser scar revision, soft tissue fillers, punch grafts and excisions and chemical peels.
Benefits
In surgical scar revisions, the scar itself is removed, and the normal skin surrounding the area is reformed in a less noticeable fashion. This is ideal for larger scars, as the resulting scar will be shorter or thinner than the original, or in some cases larger scars can be "broken up" into smaller, less noticeable scars. In some cases, surgical scar revisions can even "move" scars into more favorable, less noticeable locations. Soft tissue fillers are typically a collagen injected beneath indented scars to raise them to the level of skin round them, however this treatment is not permanent and will need to be repeated periodically, according to MayoClinic.com. Treatments such as dermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser scar revision all operate by removing or resurfacing the top layers of skin to reduce the appearance of scars left by acne, chicken pox or surgical scars.
Effects
The effects of these treatments will vary widely, depending on the treatment used and the severity of the scar. Most options are permanent, but may require upkeep. Soft tissue fillers and laser scar revision for example will require regular visits to your dermatologist to maintain their effects. Recovery time for these options varies as well, but is generally short. Patients undergoing dermabrasion can return to work within a week, and patients opting for chemical peels can in many case return to work immediately.
Considerations
After-care for skin treatment is very important to maintain skin health and appearance. Make sure to discuss treatments with your dermatologists as they will each call for different responses and care. In some cases, you may need to apply creams or petroleum jelly, however in others it will be important to not do either of these things until after a certain period of healing. Remember also that many scars will diminish on their own with home care in six to 18 months, and may never require surgical treatment. If you have any concerns over a specific scar or mark, consult with your dermatologist or physician for individualized advice.
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