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Scars

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Scars

Find Reliable Skins Treatment at Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte

all types of scars treatment

Scars

Scars come in all shapes and sizes.  Some as fairly flat, some are quite depressed.  Some are narrow and others are wide.  There is no one fits all types of scars treatment.

Your aesthetician or provider will evaluate your skin and discuss the best options for your type of scar.  Often this is a multi-step process with an initial excision of the deeper scars, fractional treatments followed by a smoothing procedure months later.  Multiple sessions are usually needed for best results.  The goal is to remove scarred skin and replace it with new healthy skin.  If too much is removed at once, another scar will result instead.  It is a process, but it can improve the skin quality, tone and texture and minimize the scar’s appearance, helping it to fade into the background and not be as noticeable to others.

Any newly treated areas will need strict sun protection to minimize darkening of the newly healing skin.  Zinc based sunblock and sun protective clothing are recommended.

Acne Scars

Acne Scars are made by deeper knots or cysts.  The more severe or the deep the acne, the more likely it is to leave permanent scars.

Cystic acne, other forms of pimples, as well as manually popping and picking at zits can lead a person to experience lasting and very visible acne scarring. Early treatment of acne helps to prevent acne scars, especially if you have deeper knots in your skin. Treatment for acne varies depending on which of the above factors is causing your acne. This is different for each person.

In the past, acne scars have been resistant to treatment. Recently, aesthetic medicines have been used successfully to remove or subdue these scars. Several procedures are available and are recommended based on the type and depth of the scarring. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion will help superficial scarring and will need multiple monthly treatment sessions over time.

Deeper scars may need a surgical excision followed by fractional lasers (Profractional or HALO) or microneedling.  Sometimes fillers are used temporarily to reinflate a scar, but will have to be repeated.  Laser skin peels or resurfacing can be used to smooth the skin surface.  This is usually the last step after all other scar treatment has been performed.

Surgical Scars

Scars left from surgery should be allowed to heal for 6 months before treatment.  The redness of the scar can be reduced with the ND:yag laser.  The remaining white scar can be blended in with the surrounding skin with procedures such as Profractional (fractional ablative resurfacing), HALO (non-ablative fractional resurfacing) or microneedling.  The fractional ablative resurfacing works faster, but has some downtime, whereas microneedling has minimal downtown, but needs more frequent treatments.  Results occur over 6-12 months after the last treatment.  Further treatments can be done if more blending is desired.

Traumatic Scars

Scars related to an accident or trauma can also be treated similar to surgical scars.  There are often more concerns regarding foreign body reactions and infection in these areas that must be addressed prior to scar treatment.

Stretch marks

Stretch marks or striae are also a kind of scar.  Red marks are active and white ones are no longer active.  The redness can be reduced with the ND:yag laser.  White stretch marks are treated similarly to surgical scars, requiring multiple fractional treatments.  A prescription retinoid can also help build new collagen over time.

Keloid Scars

Keloid scars are thickened scars that can occur after surgery or trauma.  Treatments are available to reduce the thickness and should be done before any procedures are performed.  These scars will easily redevelop or worsen if they are still active.

Burn Scars

There are a lot of new research going on about the treatment of burn scars that lead to large areas of scar as well as contraction of the affected area.  Our lasers in combination with topical and injectable steroids and other treatments can help minimize the scar and the contraction.  This requires multiple treatments spread out over time, but can be very effective.

Treatment Options

Products

  • Daily sun block to minimize darkening of newly treated scars
  • Retinoids can help build new collagen

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