By Lana Wilde

Very few of us are that fortunate not to have a single scar we would like to hide and make disappear, and only a handful of those are testimonials of a playful childhood. However, the highly advanced medicine offers various solutions for scar reduction and removal. There are many different types of scars and the treatment depends on the scar nature and size.

Corticosteroid injections

Corticosteroids come in the form of an injections and these can be used to treat any keloid or hypertrophic scars. This type of treatment obviously implies the form of little injections put into the scar. Their role is to help reduce any inflammation or swelling, which results in making the scar flatter in appearance. Usually the injections are done on 3 separate times at monthly intervals and the scarred area is checked regularly to see how well the tissue is responding. Sometimes the treatment may have to be carried on for a few months until there is significant improvement. Please bear in mind this is not a complete removal of the scar, but it can improve it greatly.

Silicone sheets

Silicone sheets can be bought in a pharmacy and their use is quite straightforward. They will help to reduce redness and so will minimize a hypertrophic or keloid scar. The silicone sheets need to be put over the scar for around 12 hours a day and the treatment should last for at least 3 months.

Surgery

Surgery sometimes has to be done to help with removing larger scars. However, this can change the position of the scar, as well as the size and shape of the scar. In cases when the scarring tissue has grown so much that it hinders a person’s movement or comfort, the surgery is a good solution because it releases the scar that has become tight. Sometimes though, surgery can leave you with a different scar that can take up to 2 years to heal. In some cases, the surgery is supported by corticosteroid injections.

There are also other types of treatments that can be used for scaring. One is an X-Ray treatment along with antibiotics, which minimises a keloid scar that has been treated. In cases of a pitted scars, then laser surgery can be used, where the laser removes the top layers of the skin, which in turn stimulates the collagen in the deeper layers, making the scar flatter and less visible.

Pressure Dressings

Pressure dressings will soften and flatten any scar. They are usually used for large burns or skin grafts.They are sometimes used with the silicone sheeting to give extra improvement.

Camouflage makeup

Camouflage makeup can be particularly useful for any scars that are on the face or neck. With a waterproof camouflage cover, the scars stay covered for 2 days at a time. As handy as it is, with camouflage make up the most important thing is to get the exact colour match for the specific skin tone.

Other treatments for scars

Light therapy is a laser which throws out pulses of light at the blood vessels in the scar. This results in the reduction of redness in the scar.

There are also dermal filler injections which plump up pitted scars. However, repeated treatments will be needed though in order to maintain the effect.

As scary as it may sound, skin needling is a small device that has hundreds of little needles that roll across the skin. This helps to reduce the thickness of the skin.

To sum up, there are many ways to treat a scar and there are many scars that can be treated. Certainly, it is advised you consult a professional and follow their advice. Scar removal can be a lengthy experience but in the end, it is comforting to know it is not impossible.

– Lana Wilde, a healthy life aficionado, occasionally blogs about topics related to skin care, beauty and healthy food.