BySusannah Blake
Scarring is normal. In fact, it is the body's way of healing a once open injury. With the help of collagen, blood tissues are reconnected to form a protective covering on the injury - the scar. Although normal scars are flat and discolored as compared with the original skin, some scars become puffy and elevated and turn pinkish to reddish in color. These types of scars are more commonly known as hypertrophic scars.
Tattoos, burns, and injections are general causes of hypertrophic scars. They may affect individuals of all ages and depending on one's genes since, according to studies, some people are more prone to developing it than others. People with fair-complexion are more prone to acquiring and because of their lighter skin color, scarring becomes more visible.
Hypertrophic scars happen only in the area where the wound is, not like keloid scars that grow bigger than the wound. Due to over-production of collagen, hypertrophic scarring may occur that could lead to the scar's elevated appearance, itching sensation, and a reddish pigmentation of the skin. Typically non-cancerous, some individuals opt to have these scars removed.
How to Deal with Hypertrophic Scars
Scars, in general, are unsightly. For one, it reduces one's attractiveness and flawlessness when even a small scar is visible to others. Following are techniques on how to treat hypertrophic scarring.
1. Laser treatment- Highly effective in removing scars, laser surgery involves vaporizing the scar tissues one level at a time, starting at the top-most layer of skin. This will then expose the lower skin layer and thus, initiate the growth of new collagen tissues. Duration of treatment may vary depending on the depth of the injury. Patients are advised to undergo laser treatment a couple of times in order to achieve maximum effect.
2. Chemical peels- This procedure involves application of certain chemicals on the scar to remove the upper dermis and promote skin exfoliation. As new skin develops, the scarring becomes unnoticeable. However, this may be a costly method of scar removal because a patient has to have several peeling sessions for better results.
3. Dermabrasion- This method is typically used for the improvement of the appearance of scars and fine lines. The patient must be under general anesthesia as this procedure involves intentionally "wounding" the skin and causing it to bleed. When the wound heals, damaged skin removed during the abrasion process is replaced with new skin growths.
4. Cortisone injections- Using this method, steroids are injected onto hypertrophic a scar, which, in time, becomes less visible. Among the treatment methods, this is said to be one of the safest and painless procedures.
Removal of hypertrophic scars is mainly due to aesthetic reasons since having them is not life threatening in any way. However, patients must ensure that they are well informed about the pros and cons of each procedure before choosing a specific scar removal treatment.
Susannah Blake is a dermatologist and webmaster at http://www.topscarcream.com/ - a resource site dedicated to reviewing the "best scar treatments" in the market and dozens of articles on body scar removal for various scars.
Scarring is normal. In fact, it is the body's way of healing a once open injury. With the help of collagen, blood tissues are reconnected to form a protective covering on the injury - the scar. Although normal scars are flat and discolored as compared with the original skin, some scars become puffy and elevated and turn pinkish to reddish in color. These types of scars are more commonly known as hypertrophic scars.
Tattoos, burns, and injections are general causes of hypertrophic scars. They may affect individuals of all ages and depending on one's genes since, according to studies, some people are more prone to developing it than others. People with fair-complexion are more prone to acquiring and because of their lighter skin color, scarring becomes more visible.
Hypertrophic scars happen only in the area where the wound is, not like keloid scars that grow bigger than the wound. Due to over-production of collagen, hypertrophic scarring may occur that could lead to the scar's elevated appearance, itching sensation, and a reddish pigmentation of the skin. Typically non-cancerous, some individuals opt to have these scars removed.
How to Deal with Hypertrophic Scars
Scars, in general, are unsightly. For one, it reduces one's attractiveness and flawlessness when even a small scar is visible to others. Following are techniques on how to treat hypertrophic scarring.
1. Laser treatment- Highly effective in removing scars, laser surgery involves vaporizing the scar tissues one level at a time, starting at the top-most layer of skin. This will then expose the lower skin layer and thus, initiate the growth of new collagen tissues. Duration of treatment may vary depending on the depth of the injury. Patients are advised to undergo laser treatment a couple of times in order to achieve maximum effect.
2. Chemical peels- This procedure involves application of certain chemicals on the scar to remove the upper dermis and promote skin exfoliation. As new skin develops, the scarring becomes unnoticeable. However, this may be a costly method of scar removal because a patient has to have several peeling sessions for better results.
3. Dermabrasion- This method is typically used for the improvement of the appearance of scars and fine lines. The patient must be under general anesthesia as this procedure involves intentionally "wounding" the skin and causing it to bleed. When the wound heals, damaged skin removed during the abrasion process is replaced with new skin growths.
4. Cortisone injections- Using this method, steroids are injected onto hypertrophic a scar, which, in time, becomes less visible. Among the treatment methods, this is said to be one of the safest and painless procedures.
Removal of hypertrophic scars is mainly due to aesthetic reasons since having them is not life threatening in any way. However, patients must ensure that they are well informed about the pros and cons of each procedure before choosing a specific scar removal treatment.
Susannah Blake is a dermatologist and webmaster at http://www.topscarcream.com/ - a resource site dedicated to reviewing the "best scar treatments" in the market and dozens of articles on body scar removal for various scars.
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