Scars occur when the deep skin layer (the dermis) is damaged and fibrous skin replaces normal healthy skin tissue. Scars tend to be worse if the inital wound was bad as the scar tissue will look very diferent to normal skin; it has no UV protection, as hair follicles and sweat glands do not grow back and normal skin function is not restored.
To repair scar damage, the skin has to lay down extra collagen to replace scar tissue once a wound is healed. However if the body overproduces collagen the scar rises above the surrounding skin resulting in a Hypertrophic Scar. Hypertrophic Scars are raised red scars that tend not to grow beyond the boundaries of the initial scar.
In comparison, Keloid Scars are a far more serious type of scarring because the scar grows beyond the original scar’s boundaries to form a large tumerous (although benign) growth. They are more common on younger, dark-skinned people of Asian or African descent.
Some scars recess into the skin and can result after chickenpox, surgery or an accident while others are the result of skin stretching like adolescent growth spurts or during pregnancy. See also Acne Scars.
One of the most exciting new developments to reduce the appearance of scars available at home is the use of topical silicone sheets applied directly over the scar. Silicone is a clinically proven scar-reducing ingredient that softens and flattens raised scars if used regularly. Patches and sheets are very effective at minimising scars particularly when combined with pain killing Cortisone and hydrating, protecting Vitamin E – and deliver real results. However, the success of silicon sheet scar treatments relies on the user not giving up the treatment.
Recently plastic surgeons have created a silicone gel that improves the appearance of scars while also minimising abnormal scar formation.
More extreme treatments for scars include laser surgery or resurfacing – often used for treating acne scars, steroid injections, dermabrasion (Glycolic Acids etc), radiotherapy and collagen injections. These scar treatments all should be administered by a medical professional.
