Is Laser Scar Reduction Appropriate For You?

So you have skin scarring either from skin injuries and wounds or from skin disease such as acne and you wish to deal with it head on. There are a bunch of ways you can do this. First is to let time do its thing. Yes, time does indeed heal all wounds and sometimes it does the same to scars because there are scar tissues that diminish in appearance through the passing of father time. But this does not happen to all scars as some scars are too substantial to disappear. These scars are referred to as abnormal scars and maybe subdivided into three major types:

1. Hypertrophic scars - these are scarring that is characterized by an elevated profile and looks like a raised lump of skin which appears red sometimes. This type of scars do not go beyond the boundaries of the wound.

2. Keloid scars - are like hypertrophic scars but they can progressive grow beyond the boundaries of the wound and can appear in red and sometimes purple color.

3. Atrophic scars - are pin-sized scarring that are depressed. This happens when the underlying support (like the fat tissues) under the skin is destroyed because of skin disease like acne.

The above types are the types of scarring that can be dealt with using advanced methods like laser scar reduction methods. However, since laser treatments are usually invasive and painful, there are certain conditions that it will not work well with a patient.

Lasers as scar removal treatment work by running the laser along the skin to remove the top layers of the skin, and hence the scars, to reveal the skin beneath which should look more natural. After applying the laser, the skin is allowed time to recuperate and to build new skin tissues that should diminish the existing scar tissues.

Other lasers do it in a different way by targeting the lower layers of skin (not the top layer) such that collagen is stimulated anew. This will help clear the scarring by facilitating the healing process from the inside out.

Because of this semi-invasive method of lasers, there are certain scenarios that doctors will advise against it. For example, if you have skin conditions like psoriasis, or certain types of acne condition like cystic acne, or dermatitis, your doctor will probably persuade you to choose another route in treating your scars.

Alternative scar treatments such as needling, silicone sheeting or applying of silicone-based scar creams may be suggested.

Be sure to go to a professional if you wish to undertake any scar reduction or removal efforts. Scars are treatable but you should remember that you need to be careful, too.

Jane W. Wong is a fitness buff and is an owner of a skin care-related website that provides scarcream.net scar cream treatment tips to anyone looking for help in dealing with body scars. Go visit her website to find out more information about how to remove scars without breaking the bank.