Having a visible scar is bad enough but when a scar is located on the facial area, it can cause self-esteem issues as well as take a toll on your professional and social confidence. Scars can be embarrassing especially when they cannot be hidden.
Scars can form as a result of an injury, acne, insect bite, cut or scrape. They can also form due to an autoimmune disease such as psoriasis or lupus. Although scarring may not be preventable in some cases, there are several options for improving the look, color or size of a scar. Some methods of scar revision include natural remedies as well as invasive and non-invasive techniques. It is important to understand that some methods may work better for certain types of scars than others.
Aloe Vera
is one of the oldest natural remedies used to treat injuries and scars. It is a great moisturizer and gentle on the skin. Apply 100% Aloe Vera gel to your face as a topical treatment to promote healing and fade a scar. Be sure to choose an Aloe Vera, which does not contain alcohol as alcohol can irritate a scar and dry the surrounding skin.
Nutmeg and honey
Make a great combination when used to reduce the look of scarring. Mix approximately 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg with 1/4 teaspoon of honey until it becomes a paste. Wash your face and apply the mixture like a mask onto the affected areas and leave it on for approximately 20-30 minutes. A little stinging is normal and this means it is working. After 20-30 minutes, wash it off. Aloe Vera can be used afterwards as a moisturizer and to help boost the effectiveness of the treatment.
Vitamin E
Great for regenerating damaged tissue as it has been shown to penetrate layers of the skin and also reduce the formation of free radicals that interfere with healing. Vitamin E also promotes collagen production.
Scar removal
Creams such as Mederma and Revitol Scar Cream may help to remove or lessen the appearance of scars. Be sure that the scar cream is gel or serum-based and contains a medical-grade silicone as the primary/active ingredient.
Soft tissue injections
Provides almost immediate results. These are injected into the scarred area and then plump the skin and smooth the scars. Some of the most popular fillers include collagen, Radiesse and Restylane. However, these fillers are not permanent and require touch-up treatments every 6 months to 2 years in order to maintain smooth-looking skin.
Excision
A surgical procedure used to treat deep scars, wide scars or scars which healed in an unusual way. This method involves cutting out the poorly healed scar and using layered sutures to properly close the wound. The patient will still have a scar but the objective is to have a tighter and less apparent scar.
Laser resurfacing
A way of gently vaporizing the damaged or acne-scarred skin to reveal fresh skin from underneath. The surgeon directs an energy beam onto the scar and its surrounding area. The laser beam burns off the outer layer of skin, which begins the regeneration of new skin. In addition, the heat from the laser stimulates the production of collagen underneath the skin. The patient will have smoother and tighter skin once it heals.
Microdermabrasion
A gradual and gentle scar removal technique,this approach vacuums micro crystals across the skin to remove damaged scar tissue. It is described as a superficial skin polishing technique. Since this treatment is designed to be gentle on the skin, patients will need to go in for weekly sessions to achieve their desired look.
Dermabrasion
This technique allows the doctor to sand down the scarred area with a diamond burr or wire brush after the skin is injected with a local anesthetic. The results from this treatment are not immediate as it takes approximately 6 weeks for a new layer of fresh skin to regenerate. However, it is an effective means to smoother skin and less scars.
Chemical peels
A chemical solution is applied to the facial area and creates a controlled wound as it burns the top layers of skin away. The new skin can take 3 days to 3 weeks to regenerate depending on the aggressive nature of the treatment. Mild peels can be repeated a few weeks later in order to achieve the desired look. Medium-depth, and deeper, peels can be repeated in 6-12 months if desired by the patient.