Top Treatments For Scarring

We’ve all struggled with scars at some point in our life. They’re the one thing that seems to affect everyone, regardless of race, age, gender, or ethnicity. The good news is that as a general rule, the appearance of scars improves over time. They start out thick and pink and then shrink and fade to a whiter color over a period of months or even years. For most of us though, that’s not soon enough.

Here’s why skin scars in the first place: most scars form as a result of an abnormal formation of collagen in the skin after you’re injured. It’s a stress response that’s actually vital to the skin’s strength. While it’s great to know that our scars are a sign of healthy skin strength, that doesn’t mean we still have to love having them. Although some people don’t mind their scars, there are many of us who are constantly looking for ways to rid ourselves of them. Luckily there are quite a few treatment options out there!

One of the first types of scar treatments, and possibly the most common, are over-the-counter treatments. ScarAway® is a type of silicone gel sheeting and it’s particularly helpful for treating older, thick scars. It’s applied to the scar for eight to 24 hours per day, but keep in mind that it may take several months to notice any improvement. Mederma® is another over the counter treatment option that consists of a combination of onion extract and allantoin, and it helps make new and existing scars less conspicuous. You apply the gel three to four times a day for eight weeks for new scars. For scars that are pre-existing, try applying it three to four times daily for up to six months.

While you’re at the pharmacy or drug store, you may reconsider and select a more natural scar treatment solution like the application of cocoa butter or vitamin E in oil or cream form. Natural scar treatments like these are great at keeping scars soft, and although there’s no scientific evidence that using these lessens the appearance of scars, they could help keep scar tissue from forming.

A few homeopathic remedy alternatives may be a challenge to pronounce but could be worth looking into. From sulphur to Calcareaphosphoricum, homeopathy is individualistic and holistic. It’s based on your medical history, your physical and emotional constitution and your ethnicity, among other considerations. Like all remedies, none of these should be taken without professional advice and guidance.

Some acne may leave scarring and treatments for those scars range from topical medications and prescriptions to more rigorous options like chemical peels. The best path to take for diminishing or removing acne scars depends on the type and severity of your acne. Dermabrasion or chemical peels have been used as a more severe acne scar treatment. Dermabrasion involves “sanding” the face using a rotating brush. Chemical peels remove the top surface or layer of the skin with a high-potency acid.

Laser scar treatment can help with raised, thick or red scars. Fraxel (Solta Medical) is a brand of fractional laser used for skin resurfacing, which smoothes out rough, bumpy scars and runs about $300 to $500 per treatments for a small area and requires at least three procedures. 

Scars can be a hassle, but there are tons of treatments options out there for people looking to get rid of their scars. Make sure to do your research well and understand the different options available to you before you make any purchasing decisions. 

Written by: Cindy Stephens

Why Scars Vary in Size and Appearance and How to Treat Them

Have you ever received a scar from a surgery, car accident or a nasty fall? You’re not alone. Each year, 200 million incisions are completed worldwide, and around 170,000 scar revisions are performed in the United States. Have you ever wondered how you might treat surgical scars or why people scar differently?

A scar is initially a result of the skin’s healing process. After the skin or tissue has been wounded, your body will release collagen to aid in the healing process. The degree to which someone’s skin will scar depends on many factors. The primary component that affects scarring is the size and depth of a wound. Age is also a vital factor in the process of scarring. Scars will typically heal better in younger individuals and they will produce a thicker blemish than on the skin of an older person. It is also important to take into consideration the skin tone of an individual. People with lighter complexions tend to receive hypertrophic scars, while Asians and African American individuals are likely to have keloid scars.

Hypertrophic scars typically possess excessive amounts of collagen, which gives them a height and thickness. Similar to hypertrophic scars, the keloid is a raised scar that is caused from an overgrowth of scar tissue. While scarring is often a natural process of the body’s healing system, scars are often the result an over-active healing of the body.

Learn more about scar healing techniques and treatments from our dermatological and scar heal patient resources.

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How can you get rid of these different kinds of scars?

Initially, scars can be like defiant old bugs that simply won’t go away. However, natural scar treatments like lemon juice, ice cubes and honey can be an effective means to healing your scar. Try not to drink all of the tasty lemon juice though, ok? This is likely to be your most difficult aspect in cleansing your abrasive epidermis. First, cut a fresh lemon in half and rub the juicy part all over your scars. Can you feel your scar fading in the blink of an eye?

Probably not! 

You will unlikely feel any tingle, burn or eyewitness the scar disappearing simultaneously as you rub the lemon on your scar. Nonetheless, the lemon will operate as a natural bleach to reduce your scar. You can also consume the lemon juice (without sugar) for 15 days, and this can help in the healing process.  Ice cubes and honey can also help to fade your scars, just take an ice cube or honey and gently rub them on your incisions daily, and voila!

Some more formal technical treatments for scar care include Z-plasty, Shave and Fusiform excision. I know, these names sound funky, but they can heal your scar, so listen up! Z-plasty is one of the most versatile scar revision techniques available according to emedicine.medscape.com. Z-plasty can effectively reorient a scar to rest in a more favorable position, break up the length of the scar, or increase the scar’s length to reduce its visibility. Shave and Fusiform excision also provide similar results.

Written By: Preston Copeland

How To Prevent Stretch Marks

Before looking into prevention methods and scar treatments, it’s important to know what stretch marks are and how they are caused. Within the large and diverse family of dermatological conditions, stretch marks (medically referred to as “striae”) are one of the most common scar types, especially in women. They’re a result of skin stretching to the point that the dermis and collagen fibers are weakened or torn.

Stretch marks are dermatological conditions often associated with pregnancy, but they can actually be caused by many different factors including weight gain, physical growth, and puberty. They’re typically found on the abdomen, breasts, hips, and thighs in the form of pink, red, or purple streaks.

    The most obvious way to prevent stretch marks is to avoid gaining weight or stretching the skin more than usual. But admittedly, sometimes those prevention methods are inevitable and difficult to avoid. Another thing to be cautious of is overuse of corticosteroid medications that can be found in creams, gels, or ointments. The hormone found within these medications, Cortisone, weakens the elastic fibers in skin and can be a risk factor for stretch marks if it’s overused. Another way to avoid stretch marks is to keep hydrated inside and out. It’s been said that seaweed wraps, home remedies, and creams and oils like cocoa butter and olive or coconut oil can help prevent stretch marks, but there isn’t much evidence that supports these methods as strong preventative measures--especially for old and well-developed scars/marks.

    Although there isn’t a definitive way to prevent stretch marks, there are plenty of scar treatments and scar products that are recommended for those who wish to get rid of existing stretch marks. Many scar treatments can be found in home remedies, but there are also medical procedures and scar products that help improve the appearance and texture of stretch marks as well such as laser therapies, microdermabrasion, and retinoid cream.

    It’s important to remember that the results of scar treatments and scar products can vary. It depends on the specific dermatological condition and certain factors like how long you’ve had the stretch marks, your skin type, and convenience (since some therapies require routine doctor visits). Be sure to talk to your doctor about which method is best for you before taking action.

Then read more about scar healing techniques and get your dermatological questions answered by checking out our Scar & Dermatology Resources for Patients.

Written By: Jordan Rawlinson