Reduce The Appearance of Scars
It is important to know that scars are a natural part of the body's healing process.
- Most wounds (unless they are very minor) will produce some degree of scarring.
- A scar is the result of the biological process of wound repair in the skin - as well as other tissues.
- Scars form when the dermis (that deep, thick layer of skin) is damaged. When such damage occurs, the body forms new collagen fibers (a naturally occurring protein in the body) in order to mend the damage. This results in a scar.
- A scar will always have a different texture and quality to that of the surrounding skin.
But the good news is that when a scar forms, it means that the wound is completely healed. They can be as a result of accidents and injuries, surgeries as well as skin conditions such as acne.
All Natural scar solution
H-Scars Formula is 100% natural and gently fades scars using no harmful chemicals or additives.
Are there different types of scars?
Yes, there are. While most scars are flat and pale, when the body produces too much collagen, they can be raised. In this case, they are called hypertrophic scars or keloid scars and are more common in younger and dark-skinned people.
Other scars have a sunken or pitted appearance especially when fat or muscle (previously supporting the skin) has been lost. Such scars may appear after surgery or from acne.
Scars can even appear as stretched skin especially during growth spurts or pregnancy or when the skin is under tension (for example when near a joint) during the healing process.
How can you get rid of scars?
Although you can never completely get rid of scars, you can certainly reduce their appearance.
Here are some of the methods used to diminish the appearance of scars.
- Topical treatments. Various skin care products are available over the counter or online. One such topical treatment is our own H-Scars Formula.
- Surgery. This method can be used to alter a scar's shape or make it appear less noticeable but is not recommended for hypertrophic or keloid scarring.
- Steroid injections. A course of steroid injections into a scar may help flatten it and in the case of keloid or hypertrophic scars, soften their appearance.
- Radiotherapy. Low-dose, superficial radiotherapy is used to prevent recurrence of severe keloid and hypertrophic scarring. This treatment would only be used in extreme cases because of potential long-term side effects.
- Dermabrasion. This treatment involves the removal of the surface of the skin with special equipment, helping to blend in the irregularities of a scar whether it is raised or depressed.
- Microdermabrasion. This is a much less invasive form of dermabrasion but is minimally useful for very superficial scars.
- Laser resurfacing. This procedure removes the surface layers of the skin using different types of lasers.
- Filler injections. These treatments can be used to raise sunken scars to the level of surrounding skin. The effects of these injections are only temporary, however, and the procedures may need to be regularly repeated.
- Microneedling. Many small puncture holes are made into the superficial skin to stimulate collagen production and even introduce collagen stimulators or other products to try to reduce the appearance of scars.
- Cryosurgery. This method freezes the scar to reduce the size of the scar as well as the pain, itchiness, hardness and discoloration.
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.