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Scars
Many individuals are bothered by their scars. This is why at Natural Radiance, we offer a range of laser scar removal treatments in Scottsdale to improve the appearance of scarring of all kinds.
All about scars
Scars are a part of the body’s healing process. They form when the deep layer of the skin is damaged, whether from acne, injury, surgery, burns, or disease. The body produces new collagen fibers to mend the wound — and in the majority of cases, the skin does not repair itself perfectly.
This gives the tissue a different texture and quality than the surrounding tissue: a scar. Although they serve an important purpose in the body’s biological processes, many people with scars feel that they are unsightly or distracting.
While some scars soften and fade out over time, others do not — either because of their color, a crater, pit, indentation, or an elevated lump or ridge formed with the scar during healing.
What are the most common types of scars?
Over time, your body will try to repair the scar. However, your body’s ability to do this adequately will depend on the size and type of scar, as well as personal factors such as genetics, age, and skin health. In many cases, your body is not able to significantly improve the look and feel of a scar without help from professional scar treatment.
To find the right scar treatment in Scottsdale, you need to understand the type(s) of scar you’re dealing with. Many scars have a flat, pale appearance. The marks that don’t fit this description fall into one of three categories:
- Acne scars: Unfortunately, many individuals picked too much at their acne and caused scarring. The level of severity can range from light acne scars to deeply pitted.
- Hypertrophic scars: When there is an abundance of collagen production during the body’s repair process, it can result in a raised lesion known as a hypertrophic scar. Hypertrophic scars remain inside the borders of the injury.
- Contracture scars: A contracture scar typically develops as the result of a burn, and may cause the skin to become tight and constricted.
- Keloid scars: Sometimes when an injury is particularly severe — such as a deep cut or scrape — the body’s wound repair process is especially aggressive, and the scar may become raised, lumpy, and expand way beyond the borders of the original wound. This is known as a keloid scars, and they are also usually dark in color and hardened.
- Atrophic scars: Atrophic scars are idented, and are usually associated with mole removal, acne, or chicken pox. They usually heal this way because there was not enough collagen during healing.
The appearance of scars can be greatly improved (or in some cases, disappear entirely) using different types of scar removal procedures. To best treat your scar(s) with the appropriate procedure, we will need to evaluate your skin type and the unique characteristics of your scar. This will take place during your consultation with us, and it’s in this initial meeting that we will design your personal customized treatment plan to achieve the best outcome for you.
Laser skin resurfacing is recognized as among the absolute best treatments for diminishing scars. Laser light is used to destroy the outer layer of the skin, which promotes the development of brand-new skin cells. Over time, laser resurfacing can improve your skin’s texture and tone, and can produce a considerable reduction in the appearance of scarring.
Chemical peels are non-invasive cosmetic treatments that can eliminate imperfections, greatly improve skin texture and tone, and treat a range of skin concerns, including mild scarring. Chemical peels can be performed on the chest, neck, back, arms, and legs, as well as the face. A safe acid solution is applied to skin, which causes a small level of trauma to the outer layers. This stimulates the body to produce new skin cells, along with more collagen and elastin. The damaged outer layer will peel away, revealing skin that’s smoother and revitalized.
Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive skin treatment in which an applicator and exfoliating material are used to “buff away” the outermost layer of the skin, revealing the brighter, smoother skin underneath. Crystal-free microdermabrasion provides the same benefits as traditional microdermabrasion, without the potential pain and damage that some patients experience with crystals. Microdermabrasion has been proven to be effective for reducing the appearance of scars.