Scars result from injuries such as wounds or burns. Many factors determine the scar's final appearance, such as the type of injury, wound care, and the person's genetics. The body begins healing immediately after it detects damage.
- The first stage is hemostasis. During this stage, the blood clots and creates a scab.
- The second stage is inflammation. Red and white blood cells move into the wound to prevent infection.
- The third stage is proliferation where fibroblast cells move in to close the wound and new blood vessels form.
- The fourth and final stage is remodeling during which the scar matures.
Basic wound care techniques will minimize the appearance of the scar. First, patients should always keep the wound clean and moist using petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment. Moist wounds heal faster, cosmetically better, and with less pain. You should prevent it from getting irritated by clothing, etc by keeping it covered while it is healing. Once the wound has fully healed, you should apply sunscreen religiously or keep it covered to avoid further darkening the scar.
If the appearance of a scar is bothersome, there are some at-home and professional treatments available to improve them.
Embrace scar therapy is a silicone adhesive patch that helps the healing process. This painless treatment keeps the area moist and only needs to be changed every ten days.
Biocorneum is another at-home treatment. It is a silicone gel that is applied twice a day. It keeps the area moist and prevents it from stretching. The gel works best on fresh fully-healed scars.
Laser resurfacing is a professional treatment performed in a doctor's office that targets the scar directly, using thermal energy to heat the dermis and trigger collagen remodeling. There are two main types of lasers: ablative and non-ablative. Ablative lasers vaporize the layers of skin. While results are dramatic in just one session, it requires a more extended recovery period. Non-ablative lasers target the dermis while leaving the epidermis untouched. Noticeable results require multiple sessions.
Microneedling is another professional scar treatment using tiny needles to puncture the skin and create controlled injuries. This triggers collagen remodeling to improve the scar. The treatment is suitable for all skin types and tones but will require multiple sessions for effective results.
Lastly, subcision is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can treat indented scars such as acne and boxcar scars. The doctor will use a hypodermic needle to loosen and cut the fibrotic strands pulling the skin downwards.
