Scar Solutions

Who needs treatment for scars?

Let’s review why scars form. When we injure ourselves the body stops the bleeding and then sends a ton of specialized cells to the area for infection fighting and healing. The puffiness of wounds and natural oozing is all part of the healing process.

As the natural healing process occurs, the body organizes the extracellular matrix skin proteins (like collagen fibers) in a linear formation. This is not the way our skin originally forms-that is more of a woven pattern. It’s this difference in collagen fiber arrangement that makes scars different from the rest of your skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology has classified six different types of scars:

• Flat Scars: The pink/reddish, slightly raised lesions. They usually flatten and lighten over time.
• Raised Scars: aka hypertrophic scars. These are elevated above the surrounding skin initially, but typically flatten with time.
• Depressed Scars: aka atrophic scars. These scars sit below the surrounding skin and most often occur on the face (think acne scars).
• Keloid Scars: These scars are elevated and significantly bigger than the wound that caused them. They typically appear well after the initial injury and do not diminish without intervention.
• Contracture Scars: Most often caused by severe burns. They create tight, thick skin that is resistant to stretching, leading to a diminished range of motion of the affected area.
• Stretch Marks: Also known as striae, they are typically correlated to pregnancy and may form with any rapid changes in body size, such as those seen in puberty, weight loss, and bodybuilding.

What can you expect from scar treatment?

Scar treatments are designed to reduce the appearance and noticeability of the scar as much as possible. In some cases scars can be nearly entirely eliminated. Depending on your type of scar and skin type, treatments may be more or less effective. In most cases, for mild to moderate scars, treatments are minimally invasive. For more severe scars, more extensive procedures will be needed.

When should you seek treatment for scars?

Again this is dependent on scar type. For typical scars, pursuing treatment is entirely dependent on the individual. Keep in mind there may be some minimal side effects following the procedure. In the case of keloid or contracture scars it is important to be evaluated by a medical professional to ensure there are no concerning underlying processes occurring.

Why should you seek treatment for scars?

Seeking treatment for scars can be a significant emotional and physical choice. Let’s keep it simple, if your scar is bothering you to the point it’s impacting your day to day then it makes sense to consider a consultation with a professional to determine what treatment options are available for your unique scar.