Scars are stories that remain as marks on our body. They are the memory of cuts, falls, acne, accidents or diseases, which our body tries to repair in a natural way by replacing the affected skin thanks to fibrin and collagen.
It is estimated that between 10% and 15% of the population has scars, but not all people want to keep those written memories and prefer to look for ways to remove the scar.
Can a scar be removed? The best scar removal treatments do not actually make the mark disappear, but they dilute or conceal it, improving its appearance.
How scars affect
Normally, scars are small and usually don’t bother, but they are always different from the rest of the skin because scar tissue does not grow hair and does not have pigment-forming cells or sebaceous glands. Hence the difference in color.
Because of these differences, some people may find them annoying and even painful, and also affect them on a daily basis due to their location. The most visible are those located on the arms, legs and face. Depending on the wound, the healing and the skin of each person, the scar will have a different color and shape.
In an ideal world, scars should be treated from the time of injury. It is very important to choose the right treatment, so it is vital to rely on professionals who carry out a preliminary study before acting.
How to remove scars
In general, we do not usually treat our scars because they are small or we do not mind having them, but when they are larger, deeper, unsightly or have been caused by severe burns or surgery, we use healing methods such as compressive bandaging, silicone gel and ointments.
The bandage and silicone gel (by means of dressings) require a more durable application of between 3 and 8 months. They act directly on the scar to increase the hydration of the scar for better healing.
With the ointments, applied with a gentle massage, we can enhance skin regeneration, increase elasticity and recover skin tone.
Scar treatments
Currently, old scars and new scars can be treated to improve their appearance. It is important to note that they cannot be eliminated in any way, at least with current knowledge and equipment.
Through surgery, precise excisions are made in the skin to remove the scar and create a new one from healthy tissue. However, there are other methods that are not invasive.
- Laser: applied mainly to more severe scars from acne, surgical procedures or burns. It is an effective non-invasive method. What the laser does is to apply heat to remove the superficial layers of the skin, creating small wounds to stimulate the formation of new collagen and thus repair the tissues naturally.
It is a simple but aggressive treatment, which usually yields quite effective results, visible a few months later, when the collagen takes effect. - Corticosteroid injection: the infiltration of corticosteroids directly into the affected area reduces inflammation and stimulates the production of collagen and extracellular matrix by fibroblasts. It is used in keloid and hypertrophic scars.
- Hyaluronic acid: it is sometimes injected under the scar to fill the dermis to even out the skin level and make the furrows caused by deeper scars disappear.
- Electroporation: by means of electroporation, we are able to introduce active ingredients into deep layers of the skin, without the need for surgery or injections. We can use active ingredients with a filler function, such as hyaluronic acid, which would make it possible to even out the scar with respect to the rest of the skin. With L-Carnitine we would be able to activate the antifibrotic activity, achieving remarkable results with superficial scars.
- Botox: has also been used for the treatment of scars, because it helps to reduce skin tension.
- Radiofrequency: radiofrequency can be used in cases of mild scars, trying to break the adhesions or fibrosis that this type of scars present. This improves elasticity, hydration and oxygenation of the tissue.
- Peels: deep cleansing with exfoliating scrubs helps to remove old scar-forming cells. By creating tiny abrasions, this skin is replaced by new skin. This treatment would only be useful with small scars.
As we said at the beginning, the key to a good result is the analysis of the scar and the combination of treatments. At the same time, cosmetic products with rosehip oil, Asian pennywort, papaya oil, marine extracts and vitamins A, D, E and C can be used. They have regenerating, moisturizing, antioxidant and elasticity-enhancing effects.
In addition, you can also take care of your scars by avoiding direct sun exposure after the injury, otherwise it may take on a darker shade.
Actions that cause the wound to stretch should also be limited and infection should be prevented.
