Scars on the face and body can be upsetting, often profoundly affecting how a person feels about their appearance. They occur as part of the skin’s natural healing process and are composed of fibrous tissue. They appear different and stand out from surrounding skin as they are often shiny, raised, red or white in colour. After initial injury to the skin, a scar takes approximately 6 months to form and heal, and for this reason I do not recommend treatment immediately after a scar forms. 

If you have scarring, here is some information about the types of treatments that can help:

Acne Scars

Acne scars often start out as red marks where breakouts have been, then develop to form ice pick, rolling, boxcar, atrophic or hypertrophic scars. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation often occurs on darker skin types, usually as a result of skin injury or acne healing. Very dark purple or brown patches may form which do not fade without treatment. Avoiding picking and squeezing spots helps to prevent scars.

Treatment

Skincare containing Azelaic Acid is a good option for reducing the appearance of scars, as it encourages cell renewal. There are two treatment options for scarring which offer effective results with minimal downtime; Intense Pulsed light (IPL) Therapy and Micro-Needling. These treat the scarring through creating a controlled version of the inflammatory healing response in the body which caused the scar in the first place. When skin is scarred, the new collagen and skin cells have a different shade or texture compared to surrounding skin, so IPL photofacials and micro-needling for acne scarring trigger a healing response in the body that removes the existing collagen and produce new, smoother layers of skin. 

Keloid Scars

Keloid scars are smooth, form, hard growths arising soon after an injury and are very prominent compared to normal scars. Their exact cause is unknown, although darker skin types are more prone to keloids. Hypertrophic Scars, unlike keloids, tend to be less bulbous, flatter and restricted to the injured area of skin.
Treatment - Both of these scars can be effectively treated with a course of steroid injections placed directly into the scars themselves, which helps to flatten and lighten the colour by thinning the tissue. A course may be required for best results.

Here to help

All scars are unique and have to be treated at the right time, with the correct input. If you would like to arrange a full consultation with me, please click here to get in touch.

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