Nearly everyone has a scar somewhere on their body. Some people wear their scars as a badge of honor while others incur them after an injury and then simply forget about them. But for many people scars can be a painful reminder of the past or an imperfection that hinders their ability to enjoy life to the fullest. Science has tried to cater to this category of scar bearer for centuries, early shaman and medicine men have used a blend of herbs, spells and chants to try and heal scars left by various injuries due to illness and battle. Without much success remedies have been concocted over the years to clear away unsightly scars.
A scar is a tissue overgrowth that forms as a result of some type of trauma to the deep layers of the skin such as a burn, injury or surgery. Human skin is made up of three layers; the deepest layer being the “dermis.” When the dermis is injured by a deep wound, a scar naturally occurs to bind the edges of the wound together. In some cases, scars can become raised, reddened, firm and even painful. These “hyper” enlarged scars are called hypertrophic or keloid scars. In the most extreme cases surgery may be necessary for scar removal. Surgery may come in the form of an incision or as a sophisticated treatment with a specialized laser.
As technology has rapidly improved in the medical world over recent years, more research has been poured into effective scar healing and treatment. Naturally, hundreds of misleading products have surfaced on the market claiming to heal or remove scars of all types in as little as two weeks.
The first legitimate non-surgical remedy was introduced many years ago in the form of a thick sheet of silicone gel with a sticky undersurface. It is applied to the scar with the sticky side down and worn around the clock if possible until desired results are achieved or until no further improvement is noticed, usually over a period of approximately 3 months. The theory is that the scar flattens and softens as a result of realignment of the collagen fibers. Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons in particular embraced this development to help ensure that their patients didn’t develop unsightly scars. Although this treatment has proven very effective, it had almost as many cons as it did pros. The sheets are bulky, fall off easily while the patient is sleeping and may be too visible for some to feel comfortable wearing in public. Generally the sheets were very thick and cumbersome. As a result, many users would end up abandoning the treatment before maximum improvement is realized.
In 1998 a company called Hanson Medical introduced ScarFade scar gel to the market. ScarFade is a topical silicone treatment that is applied to the scar like a cream. The formula is 100% unique and scientifically proven to work, it is even Doctor recommended. The patented formula offers the benefits of the silicone sheets without the drawbacks. The cream is clear and unnoticeable, completely safe, and most importantly it is comfortable and can even be worn under cosmetic s and sunscreen.