Scar Removal

Virtually everybody finds themselves with a scar somewhere on their bodies at some point during their lives. Sometimes, the scars heal on their own. Other times, they can last for a lifetime or even get worse as the years go by. Fortunately, thanks to the scar removal procedure options available in the modern world, almost any scar can be removed quickly and easily. If you have a scar that you wish would just go away, the solutions presented below may be for you.

Home Remedies for Scar Removal

You could potentially heal mild scars without relying on cosmetic surgery or complex treatments. Many lotions and creams boast scar-removing potential, but it can be difficult to distinguish which of these remedies for getting rid of scars are genuine and which ones amount to little more than false advertising. If you choose an over the counter solution, look for something that uses natural ingredients that are good for the skin, such as honey, aloe vera, and citrus extract. Keep a close eye on your scar when you use a topical cream – if you don’t see improvement over the course of a couple of weeks, you may need to consider a more advanced scar treatment solution.

When to Seek Cosmetic Surgery Options

You should consider medical scar treatments if a scar causes abnormal sensitivity or irritation in your skin, if it doesn’t go away after the use of topical creams, or if it is in an area that leaves you feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable. Scar treatment surgery is a straightforward and usually painless procedure that can help heal the skin and either reduce or completely remove an unwanted scar. When you seek a cosmetic solution, you will get an opportunity to speak with a specialist who has dealt with many people in similar situations. That professional will ask you some important questions to get a feel for your wants and needs before introducing any scar removal treatment options.

What are the Different Types of Scars?

Scars come in many different varieties. The listing below presents the most common types of scars and how you might go about healing them:

• Acne scars represent damage done to your skin by way of severe acne. You can usually get rid of these scars through acne treatment and regular washing, although severe acne may sometimes lead to the need for another option.
• Contracture scars represent a tightening of the skin that usually comes from a burn or similar injury. Depending on the severity of the burn, this type of scar might go below the skin and affect your muscles and nerves. In this case, you might need medical intervention.
• Hypertrophic scars are raised red scars that usually come as a result of a cut or abrasion. These scars can often go away on their own, although some may require the use of anti-inflammatory medication to make the scar go away.
• Keloid scars, like hypertrophic scars, represent a raised red area that comes about as a part of an overly aggressive healing process. These scars tend to be more severe than hypertrophic scars and may last a lifetime. In severe cases, they might even hamper your movement in an area. Cosmetic surgeons can remove these scars by flattening the scar and then helping the skin to heal over the area.

How to Get Rid of Scars

Now that you know how to tell the different types of scars apart, how do you make scars go away fast? For most scars, the best way to heal them is to take care of your skin. This includes cleaning the wound carefully so as not to irritate it while also removing any dirt and debris that might limit your body’s ability to heal properly. Plenty of exercise and a good diet can help maximize the healing as well. Finally, certain vitamins and oils can help. Vitamin E is essential to good skin health, and both aloe vera and coconut oil can help keep the skin moist and promote healing. If you scar lingers for several days without showing any sign of going away, you may wish to speak to a healthcare professional.

Do Scars Really Last Forever?

You’ve probably heard people say that certain scars last forever. If you have an unsightly scar yourself, this probably leads you to an important question: can scars ever go away? The answer is both yes and no. When your body gets injured, the body tries to repair the damage as soon as possible. This can lead to scars as the body goes overboard in sealing a break in the skin. As time passes, the scar can be reduced and made almost invisible. However, some of the scar collagen used to heal the injury in the first place always remains, thus leaving a trace of the scar, no matter how faint. This doesn’t mean that you should panic if you have an unsightly scar, though – proper treatment can make it all but invisible.

Proper Scar Care

The skin around a scar won’t ever be quite the same, but proper treatment can leave a scar practically invisible to the naked eye. This leads to the very important question of, how do you heal a scar? For most scars, this comes down to keeping the wound clean and protecting the surrounding skin. Gently clean the area with mild soap and water to prevent infection. Keep the wound moist through the use of petroleum jelly, as this helps to prevent scabbing. When the scar does start to heal, make sure to apply sunscreen to it whenever you go outside. Protecting your scar from the sun’s UV light can help it fade, while a sunburn can make the scar linger for much longer.

Dealing with Facial Scars

The worst scars that people have to deal with usually appear on the face. Due to acne, trauma, or another unexpected accident, a facial scar can affect people’s perceptions of you and can also lower your own self-esteem. To treat a facial scar, you should use the cleaning and moisturizing tips outlined above. However, if you want to know how to remove scars from the face permanently, you should probably consider facial cosmetic surgery. Professional cosmetic surgeons can use laser skin treatment and other techniques to completely remove any trace of your old scar. This can usually be done as an outpatient procedure, although you will still need to take certain steps to help your skin heal from the procedure.

Can Old Scars Be Removed?

Some people have dealt with scars on their face or in another unsightly area for most of their lives, never realizing that there are simple and effective scar removal options available. if you find yourself wondering how to remove old scars, the solution lies with proper skin care or high-quality cosmetic techniques. As with other scar removal procedures, a cosmetic surgeon can alter the skin texture and pigmentation enough to make even an old and unsightly scar virtually invisible. From there, taking care of your skin by applying sunscreen and adding anti-inflammatory foods such as beets and onions to your diet can help the skin heal quickly without triggering the healing process that might create new scars or scabs.

Makeup and Facial Scars

Many people choose to use makeup to conceal facial scars or to hide the impact of a recent scar removal procedure. In cases where you opt for makeup before a scar removal procedure, choosing a green-tinted concealer can help offset the redness of a scar. If you do plan to get the scar removed, make sure to clean the makeup off your face entirely before the procedure. The professional helping to remove your scar needs to see exactly where the boundaries of the injury lie to make sure it truly disappears. After a procedure, be sure to check with the professional who provided your cosmetic procedure before applying makeup. Some types of makeup can damage sensitive skin following a scar removal procedure.

Skin Care

As should be evident by now, you have the best chance of recovering well from a scar and being able to remove it most effectively if you take good care of your skin. This includes a proper exercise routine and a diet rich in vitamin E, beta carotene, and citrus fruits. You should also take time to moisturize your skin, preferably with lotion that uses natural ingredients. Finally, if you do get injured and fear that a scar might be forming, washing the wound and keeping it protected can keep your body from healing just what it needs to and going no further, thus eliminating the risk of a scab.

The cosmetic damage done by a scar doesn’t need to last forever. In addition to scar removal procedures, you can take certain steps for your own health and safety that help reduce or eliminate long-term scarring. The information above should provide you with an excellent primer that can allow you to take the care of your skin into your own hands.