What is Scarring?
When there is trauma or injury to the skin, it responds by scarring most of the time.
There are commonly 2 types
In pigmented scars, the skin appears darker in colour due to damage on the superficial skin layers. In some skin types the scars will appear red and later turn to a darker brown colour.
In fibrotic scars, there can be pits / holes in the skin or the skin can appear raised and bumpy.
What are the causes?
Scars are commonly due to burns / injury / surgery or trauma most commonly
Acne scar: This is one of the commonest scars on facial skin. They appear as pits or small holes on the skin. Sometime they can be deeper and appear wavelike.
Pigmented scar: This commonly follows minor trauma/ sun burn / abrasion. The area appears darker in colour.
Hypertrophic scar: These are raised and red scars, appear as bumps. Occurs in areas of irritation.
Keloid scars: This is caused by an aggressive healing process of the skin.
Contracture scar: Occurs post burns. There is tightening of skin in the injured area.
What are the preventions that can be undertaken?
Acne scars can be avoided by picking on the scars and by avoiding forced clean up of the pimples by extraction. Their best way to remove this is by undergoing chemical peels at a dermatologist’s office under medical supervision.
Acne scars are the easiest to avoid of all scars.
Persons prone to keloids and hypertrophic scars should be cautious about abrasive procedures.
What is the procedure at Kosmoderma?
Acne scarring can be treated with newer techniques. In the last 2 years there have been many advances in laser technology available for Indian skin. Hence today we can treat scars safely and effectively on Indian Skin.
"There is no need for people to walk around with facial scars. Get them treated, there is no excuse not to".
The treatment depends on the scars:
- Chemical Peeling: This helps superficial pigmented scars and takes 6 - 10 sessions. The peels are combination of Alpha Hydroxy acids, Retinol, TCA and Phenol peels
- Subcision: This technique is used to break the scar bands under the skin. This
- Dermaroller /Microneedling: This is ideal for medium level scars. It takes 6 sessions on a monthly basis. The downtime is minimal and limited to redness and swelling for a few hours. It is very effective for superficial – medium acne scars
- Fractional Lasers: The newer lasers have very less downtime and are a boon to treating scars. It takes 6 - 8 session every 3 - 4 weeks. The result varies between 70 - 80% depending on the scar. The laser is very effective for acne scars and deep pigmented scars. The 1550nm Erbium Glass laser has revolutionised the treatment of accident and burn scars yielding 60 – 80% results in 6 -8 sessions with minimal downtime.
- Ablative Lasers: This procedure is barely used due to long recovery and is not suitable to the Indian Skin.
- Injections: Steroid injections are used for treating hypertropic and keloidal scars
Surgery: Plastic and Reconstructive surgery is required for contracture scars.
