Scars
Our skin is a seamless organ, like a fine piece of cloth cloaking valuable
assets. Any burn, injury, surgery or other trauma to it can cause the formation
of scar tissue that can be downright ugly.
Imagine if you had a fine piece of silk: Even one small tear can make a
difference in how it looks. But we're human: Throughout our lives, we will have
experiences that nip and tear at our skin, either self-inflicted, or completely
out of our control.
A scar isn't so bad if it's small or in a location that's easy to conceal.
But often you want a way to treat those scars other than hiding them under
clothing.
The truth is this: The scar will never completely go away, but there are
some methods that can help reduce its size and appearance.
How does scarring happen?
Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process after injury.
Various factors influence how your skin scars. Of course, the depth and size
of the wound or incision and the location of the injury are going to impact the
scar's characteristics. But your age, heredity, even your sex or ethnicity,
will all affect how your skin reacts.
What are the types of scars?
These are several different types of scars including:
- Keloid scars.
These scars are the result of an overly aggressive
healing process. These scars extend beyond the original injury. Over time, a
keloid scar may affect mobility. Possible treatments include surgical removal,
or injections with steroids. Smaller keloids can be treated using cryotherapy
(freezing therapy using liquid nitrogen). You can also prevent keloid formation
by using pressure treatment or gel pads with silicone when you sustain an
injury. Keloid scars most often occur in Blacks.
- Contracture scars. If your skin has been burned, you may have a
contracture scar, which causes tightening of skin that can impair your ability
to move; additionally, this type of scar may go deeper to affect muscles and
nerves.
- Hypertrophic scars. Raised and red scars that are similar to
keloids, but do not breach the boundaries of the injury site. Possible
treatments can include injections of steroids to reduce inflammation.
- Acne scars. If you've had severe acne, you probably have the scars
to prove it. There are many types of acne scars, ranging from deep pits to
scars that are angular or wavelike in appearance. Possible treatments will
depend on the types of acne scars you have.
Next: What are the possible treatments? »
- Photodynamic Therapy - Read about photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT uses a photosensitizing agent and light source to treat cancers (skin, lung, esophageal, Barrett's esophagus), acne and rosacea.
- Lupus - Get information on lupus (SLE) disease treatment, signs, diagnosis, types of symptoms (butterfly, discoid rash), causes, pregnancy flares, prevention and statistics.
- Mohs Surgery - Find out about Mohs micrographic surgery, a procedure that removes skin cancer under local anesthetic. Read about complications, reconstruction, recovery, treatment and scarring.
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