3 Treatments to Minimize the Appearance of Scars
Posted on: 22 March 2022
Whether you are experiencing scars as a result of old acne or after surgery, it can make some people self-conscious about their appearance. Depending on the type of scar, there are several ways to minimize their appearance.
Ointments
There are various ointments that are OTC or can be prescribed to help different issues with scars. In many cases, as a scar heals, it can be itchy. Scratching the area tends to only make the scar worse. You can apply topical antihistamine creams to ease the itching. If the area is still open, you should ask your doctor if you can safely apply the cream without causing problems with healing. Silicone gels are another option, as with other creams, you should speak with your doctor to ensure it is safe to apply as the area heals. Applying silicone gel to a healed area, before it begins to scar may prevent scarring or lessen its severity. For scars that already exist, silicone can improve different characteristics of scars, like minimizing discoloration or abnormal texture.
Minimally-Invasive Procedures
Minimally-invasive procedures are ideal for stubborn scars that are in obvious areas, such as on the face, or those that can be seen when wearing certain clothing. Chemical peels are among the most common options for facial scars, especially textured acne scars. There are different intensities of chemical peels, depending on the severity of the scars. Light peels may be done multiple times to slowly improve the look of scars. The benefit of light peels is there is less healing time, but it may take many sessions to notice a difference and may not be useful for deep, pitted scars.
Moderate to intense peels are often the better option for major scars, but the healing time is significant and an intense peel may only be done once to minimize the chance of serious skin damage. Microneedling may be appropriate for some scars. Although there are devices you can use at home, these are not necessarily safe. To reduce the chance of infection or worsening problems, the procedure is best left to the professionals. Microneedling involves rolling the affected area with many small needles that help encourage collagen growth.
Surgery
Surgical options can involve a small excision of a deep acne scar or a more significant excision of a larger scar on the body. The goal is to remove the scar and stitch the surrounding, undamaged skin closed. Although there will likely be a new scar in its place, the goal is for the new scar to be more discreet than the previous one. In some instances, surgery to remove an existing scar may not be ideal, such as in the instance of people prone to keloids. Some people may attempt to have a keloid removed in hopes the second scar does not keloid, although there is a high likelihood a new keloid could develop.
There are several options for minimizing scars, depending on the location, size, and age of the scar. Generally, older scars and raised ones may be harder to treat with minimally-invasive procedures or OTC ointments.
For more information, contact a company such as Avocet Polymer Technologies Inc.
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