Scars can be caused by many things, with some scars being more severe than others. Understanding the root cause of your scar can help to determine the best treatment to reduce its appearance. Scarring is a natural process that’s necessary for the skin to heal by regenerating tissue and collagen back to the skin’s surface.The most common types of scars are often related to chickenpox, acne, burns, infection, insect bites or surgery.The formation process occurs when the dermis (the thick, deep layer of skin) becomes damaged. When the skin is damaged, it needs to renew the collagen fibres to protect the surface from further damage. This causes the texture and colour of skin within the healing area tobe differentthan normal. Read on to learn about some of the most common types of scarring.
Indented Scars
Severe acne as well as surgical procedures are two of the main causes of indented scars, where the skin appears to be pitted or sunken. This occurs when the breakout has stripped away the natural fat skin cells in the area. One of the best treatment options for this specific scar type islaser scar removal. Fractional laser as well asmicroneedling can effectively help to smooth out the uneven surface of the skin.
Hyper Pigmented Scars
Scars with hyper pigmentation can be caused by over exposure to the sun, injuries, inflammation, or even acne vulgaris. Those with darker skin complexions are more susceptible to this type of scar, as it occurs due to over production of melanin. The best scar treatment option for hyper pigmented scars isa chemical peel. Since the discoloration is mostly on the upper part of the skin, regular chemical peels can help to lighten the visible skin’s surface.
Keloid Scars
Unlike other scar types, anything that can scar the skin can create a keloid. Common causes include cuts, severe acne, skin irritations and burns. The unusual thing about keloid scars is that they normally take around 3 months to fully form. There are many treatment options for keloid scars available, as it is quite a common type of scar. However, this doesn’t mean all options are worth trying. Oneparticularly effective treatment is cryotherapy, which is a method that freezes the excess skin then breaks the surface back down to original size.
Contracture Scars
A contracture scar is one of the few types of scars that can go deeper into the skin’s surface, which can affect the nerves or muscles. They can rise to a certain extent, but not as fully as a keloid scar. The main causes of this scar include abrasion, surgery, trauma, burning and laceration. The best scar treatment for contracture scars is usually to inject steroids into the affected area, reducing the inflammation of the surface. This in turn helps to flatten the area.
Scars may seem permanent, but there are plenty of treatment options available to help reduce their appearance. Almost every effective scar treatment is non-invasive and not as costly as surgical procedures. The sooner you start treating the damaged area, the sooner your scar will fade over time.
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