Not all scars are created equal. Some are red and raised, while others are flat and white. Plus, different scars can appear on different parts of the body. For instance, acne scars appear on the face, while stretch mark scars appear on the hips and stomach.
While they vary in texture, size and severity, the extent to which they will stick around will depend on how you got the scar initially. It will also depend on how deep the wound was, whether or not you had stitches, whether the wound opened up again at all, or where it occurred on your body.
Let’s take a look at the various contributing factors for scars and the treatments that are involved.
Scar Formation: How the Body Heals
You can form scars in any manner of ways, due to:
- Surgery
- Acne
- Tissue inflammation
- Injury
- Infection
- Burns
When you scar, this is your body’s way of healing itself. The healing process can take a variety of paths as it repairs your skin. This process is very well-meaning but it falls short of the goal, leaving the area discolored, flat, sunken, lumpy, or itchy.
In addition to how the wound heals, it will depend on where the wound is healing on your body. Some areas are more conducive to healing than others. Elbow and knee scars can take longer to heal due to the flexible joints they’re located on. But then if you consider acne scars, they may stick around forever, held in place by systemic flare ups that occur through your life span.
Scars also have a hard time healing if they are tampered with during the healing process, such as when you pick at scabs. This action prolongs the whole process.
How Are Scars Treated?
Again, as with the actual scars themselves, recommended treatments will depend on the extent of the injury, placement of the injury, type of scar and your personal preferences.
Accordingly, these are the available treatment options:
- Topical silicone gels and ointments
- Laser surgery
- Skin grafting
- Pressure treatment
- Dressings and sheets
- Cryotherapy
- Steroids
Standard scars respond well to topical ointments such as Scarfade. For extensive and deep scars, surgery may be a solution but it’s a last resort. Location will also determine what kind of treatment you go with. For example, you may want a more aggressive solution to facial scars due to high visibility and resulting embarrassment.
If you have mild to moderate scarring, Scarfade silicone gel regularly massaged into the area is the most effective and least invasive way of reducing scar appearance. It’s best to start off with less invasive treatments like this to see how they work before moving onto more aggressive approaches. If you’re unclear, sit down with your dermatologist first to talk about your scar types and best treatment options.