Scar Treatment In Delhi

What do scars look like?

• Newly formed scars have a pink to reddish colour. As they mature, the colour often turns lighter or darker than the skin.
• Mostly the scars are flat, and the skin over the surface appears wrinkled.
• If a lot of extra collagen is made, there will be a raised scar.
• Sometimes, your body makes a lot of collagen and the scar is bigger than the original wound. This type of raised scar is called a keloid
• A sunken scar appears when there is a lot of inflammation in your skin as in acne or chickenpox. This occurs when the inflammation destroys collagen in your skin
• When a scar forms, the newly formed tissue is tighter and thicker than your skin and makes it difficult to move. Such a scar that limits movement is called a contracture scar and this type of scar is seen in burns
• Stretch marks are also a type of scar that causes a disruption in the connective tissue and also when our skin grows or shrinks rapidly

Treatment for scars

Not every scar may require treatment. However, if a scar makes you feel uncomfortable, treatment is available to reduce the visibility of the scar and improve movement. The appearance of a scar is influenced by the following:

• As a result of injury such as an accident, acne, burn, surgery, etc
• The wound size and its depth
• The part of the body involved

How do dermatologists prevent and treat scars?

Lasers and other light energy treatments:

These treatments can:

• Prevent the formation of raised scars and keloids
• Reduce the visibility of existing raised scars and keloids
• Decrease scar tissue formation after surgery
• Treat depressed acne or pox scars
• Reduce the colour of the scar including redness
• Improve mobility when a scar limits movement
• Reduce symptoms such as pain, itch, hardness, and swelling

Corticosteroid injections:

They are widely used in the treatment of raised scars and keloids. Dermatologists often inject a corticosteroid directly into the scar to:

• Reduce the size of a raised scar or keloid
• Ease symptoms of itch and pain
• Sometimes another form of scar treatment, such as an injection of 5-FU or a pulsed-dye laser.

5-FU or bleomycin injections:

Your dermatologist may use one of these medications directly into the scar to:

• Reduce or relatively flatten a raised scar or keloid
• Ease symptoms of itch and pain
• It may be combined with another scar treatment, such as a corticosteroid injection or pulsed-dye laser therapy.

Cryosurgery:

This treatment is used to freeze the scar, which eventually destroys the scar tissue. Dermatologists have used this treatment for years to:

• Reduce the size of raised scar or keloid
• Diminish the symptoms such as pain, itch, hardness, and discolouration
• The procedure can reduce the size of a scar by 50% or more.
• Sometimes, the patient may also receive an injection of a medication, such as a corticosteroid or 5-FU.

Scar surgery: During this surgery, a dermatologic surgeon cuts out the scar too,

• Reduce the size of a keloid
• Increase your ability to move if a scar limits movement such as a burn contracture
• This surgery I only an option when other treatment fails.
• A scar can return after it’s removed.
• To reduce this risk, the surgeon often leaves the border of the keloid in place.
• To improve the results of the procedure, additional treatments such as injections of a corticosteroid, are often given to those who have scar surgery.

Radiation:

Radiation therapy for scars can:

• Reduce the appearance of raised scars and keloids when other treatments fail
• Relieve the itch and discomfort that accompanies raised scars and keloids
• Lessen the risk of a scar coming back following a scar surgery

Chemical peels:

• A dermatologist will use a chemical solution over the scar area.
• When the peel is removed, the irregular skin is replaced to reveal a smoother layer of skin
• This treatment may require sessions and are best for surface-level scars.

Dermabrasion:

• Using a machine that is designed to rub over the skin surface, a dermatologist uses it to smooth away the superficial layer of your skin.
• Like a chemical peel, this treatment is a good option for smoothing a raised scar.

Ointments:

Over-the-counter scar removal topical ointments may be a good solution for minor scarring. Dermatologist-prescribed preparations that are best suited for your skin are to be used.