Scars are notoriously difficult to remove completely, and many people find them disfiguring or unattractive. According to some experts, there is no failsafe way to remove scars completely, although many treatments exist that can help reduce the appearance of some scars. If you are looking for a way to remove scars or at least make them less visible, there are a variety of treatments and remedies for you to try.
Scars are caused when the dermis, or lower layer of the skin, is damaged. As the wound heals, a fibrous tissue replaces the skin. Depending on the type of injury, a scar can look like a scrape, a lump of tissue, or a pockmark. The appearance of scars often decreases with time, but some, particularly those from acne, can remain discolored for many years.
Some suggest that the best way to deal with scars is to prevent them from ever forming. A diet high in vitamins, particularly vitamin E, can help skin heal faster and without scarring. If you have a wound that appears to be scarring, consider treating it with Vitamin E daily. This may help prevent a scar from forming or may lessen its appearance.
Microdermabrasion is a cosmetic technique used to lessen the appearance of some scars, particularly those left by acne. By blasting the skin with finely-ground minerals, raised scars can be smoothed out. While effective in some cases, microdermabrasion is less successful with sunken or “ice pick” scars. Microdermabrasion treatments are often done in one-month intervals for 6-12 months, and cost between $50-$150 US Dollars (USD) per treatment. This treatment is often touted for its lack of recovery time, for in most cases skin will be only slightly red after treatment and be back to normal within 24 hours.
Laser resurfacing is a fairly new way of trying to remove scars. In most laser treatments, the skin is exposed to a laser that vaporizes skin cells, allowing new skin to grow. Theoretically, if the laser destroys enough skin to get beneath the scar, the scar will disappear. Although laser technology is still being improved, it seems to be one of the more accurate ways to remove scars. Treatments vary in price, depending on what method of resurfacing is used, but are begin around $2000 USD.
Over-the-counter products exist that can help reduce the discoloration, if not remove scars completely. These work in a variety of ways to help diminish how scars appear. Some use silicon, which has been shown in some studies to make the skin appear smoother and less varied in tone. Others use a substance similar to bleach to remove hyperpigmentation and lessen discoloration from scars. While over the counter products are certainly less expensive than cosmetic procedures, they tend to have an iffy success rate.
Scars are an indelible imprints of experience, and may not be as bad as they seem. If you can look at a scar and proudly recall that you rescued a friend, or fought of a lion, or did a really impressive jump off the swing set, you may have no need to remove your scars. If your scars make you feel embarrassed or unsightly however, new and improved treatments, such as laser resurfacing, may be able to help you look in the mirror with a smile again.
