Types of Scars and Getting Rid of Them

Everyone around us wants our skin to be healthy and tidy, irrespective of the complexion we possess. Skin can be thought of as a piece of cloth. Now, imagine the material got stained or tore. The look of the fabric will not be the same anymore. The scars affect our skin in the same manner. Scars, though not wholly curable, can be cured partially, at least in its size and appearance. With the help of medical science, there exists a variety of methods to reduce scars.

Birth of a scar

A scar can be the result of an operation, burning, wound or any other type of trauma. In biological terms, scars are explained as a mark that is left on the skin due to an injury, burn or surgery. It is easier to hide a scar in the body if it located at a place that can be easily covered, but the problem arises when the spot on the body is easily visible or exposed.

The treatment and the way a scar look depend on how thick the cut was, sex of the person, age, type of wound, part of the body affected, and even the ethnicity. Scars carry with them traces of many awful incidents of our lives.

Types of Scar

There are various types of scars.

• Keloid: These type of scars affects the area of skin even beyond the wound and is most usual in people having dark complexion or skin. Over excessive healing process results in the formation of Keloid scars. Keloid scars can be treated with the help of numerous methods. Removing the scar permanently requires an operation. Flattening the scars requires less effort and also serves the purpose of less visibility. This can be done using silicon sheets, and steroid injections. Cryotherapy is a method of treating scars where liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the scar, and it is used to treat smaller scars. We all know and believe, prevention is better than cure. So, by preventing the formation of keloids, we can purposefully avoid the scars on our body as well as the mental discomfort caused by it. Use of pressure treatment or using gel pads with silicone at the time of injury helps in preventing the formation of keloid scars.
• Contracture: Contracture scars occur mostly in cases of burns. These type of scars results in tightening of skin which in turn creates a barrier for comfortable movement of the part of the body which is affected by contracture scars. In some worst cases, contracture scars tend to increase their depth as much as they affect muscles and nerves, which subsequently block the motion of the affected tissues.
• Hypertrophic: These scars are, though, similar to keloid scars but differ in the type of spreading it causes. Hypertrophic scars do not affect the area beyond the wound, unlike keloid scars. These scars are red in color, and a little raised from the surface of the skin. The treatment process for these scars is similar to that of the keloid scars. Liquid nitrogen for freezing the scar, and use of silicone sheets, and steroid injections for flattening scars is used.
• Acne: As the name suggests acne scars are the scars that result from severe acne. Types of acne scars differ from wavy appearance to deep pits, and the treatment varies accordingly.

Treating Scars

• Creams, gels or ointments: We eventually come across a wide range of beauty products in our daily life, and the sources vary from social media, the idiot box or the television, as it is popularly known, or the internet. Choosing the best among them requires active research and also depends on the area of action of the product. Scar treatment products are vastly available with the range varying from cream, to gel and ointments. Gels are mostly preferred as they get absorbed by the skin and leaves the skin surface dry. Over-the-counter treatment should be undertaken with prior concern from the surgeon in case you are under the guidance of a plastic surgeon. Over-the-counter treatment includes antihistamines that are supposed to be taken orally, or steroids and is known to cause itching and are usually very sensitive. Taking a dermatologist’s concern regarding the products or over-the-counter methods you are using for treating your scar is a must for getting the best results out of the product. According to specific marketing analysis, scar cream on Amazon are preferred over any other source as they provide substantial discounts on their products and the reviews are extremely good.
• Surgery: Undertaking an operation is an ultimate solution to get rid of deep scars taking the type of injury in mind. Surgery is of different kinds such as dermabrasion, skin grafts, laser surgery or excision. Dermabrasion means getting rid of specific layers of skin, specifically upper to mid layers with the help of firm abrasive tools, for example, fraise, wire brush, salt crystals, sterilized sandpaper or any other mechanical structures and processes, and it is generally carried out by a dermatologist under a professional medical setting. Microdermabrasion, on the other hand, is a more recent and non-professional way of cosmetic operation which is performed by untrained people and in the un-medical atmosphere.
• Injections: The type of scars that remain for a long time, or tend to stay longer like keloid scars or hypertrophic scars need to be treated using steroid injections. Depending on the nature of scars, doctors themselves start using this solution to get rid of the scars on a patients’ body. Unfortunately, injections such as collagen are used in case of some pitted scarring, but the results are not permanent.

Scars do not only affect our skin but also results in the decrease of confidence just because we feel uncomfortable with the looks society gifts us with if we have scars on some exposed portions of our skin. Some people even go through depression for the behavior they go through from their friends, relatives, society and so-called close people. The branch of dermatology has evolved along with other spheres of science and have come up with a range of solutions for the existing problem of scars, varying from temporary to permanent remedies.