SCAR THERAPY
Non-surgical aesthetic scar therapies focus on minimizing the appearance of scars by improving their texture, color, and size through various in-office procedures and at-home treatments.
Topical and At-Home Treatments
These are generally used for new or minor scars to help them mature and fade naturally.
Silicone Gels and Sheets: Considered the gold standard for non-invasive scar management, these products create a hydrating barrier over the scar, which helps to flatten and soften raised (hypertrophic and keloid) scars and reduce redness. Brands include CICA Scar Treatment and Dermal Therapy Scar Treatment Silicone+ Gel.
Pressure Therapy: Applying continuous, consistent pressure with elastic bandages or garments can help prevent the formation of raised scars, particularly useful for burn scars.
Topical Creams & Ointments: Over-the-counter and prescription creams containing ingredients like retinoids, Vitamin C, and hydroquinone can help with discoloration (hyperpigmentation) and mild textural changes, but are less effective on deep or raised scars.
Sunscreen: Daily application of broad-spectrum sunscreen is crucial to prevent UV damage from darkening a new scar's pigmentation.
In-Office Aesthetic Procedures
These are more intensive treatments performed by a dermatologist or a qualified aesthetician and are often combined for optimal results.
Laser Therapy
Different types of lasers target specific scar characteristics
Pulsed Dye Lasers (PDL): Used for red or pink scars, these lasers target blood vessels to reduce redness, itching, and inflammation.
Fractional Lasers (Ablative and Non-ablative): These lasers create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating new collagen production to smooth texture and blend the scar with surrounding skin. They are effective for atrophic (pitted) and deeper scars.
Injectable Treatments
Corticosteroid Injections: Injected directly into raised scars (hypertrophic and keloid) to break down excess collagen, making them flatter and softer.
Dermal Fillers: Substances like hyaluronic acid are injected into indented or pitted (atrophic) scars to raise them to the level of the surrounding skin, offering an immediate, though temporary, improvement.
Microneedling (Collagen Induction Therapy): A device with fine needles is rolled over the scar to create micro-punctures, triggering the body's natural healing process and new collagen formation, which improves overall skin texture and tone.
Chemical Peels: A chemical solution is applied to remove the damaged outer layers of skin, promoting the growth of smoother skin. The depth of the peel can be adjusted to treat different scar severities.
Dermabrasion: A rapidly rotating device is used to "sand" down the top layers of the skin. This procedure is best for smoothing the surface of acne and other superficial scars.
Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and destroy excess scar tissue, primarily used for small keloids or hypertrophic scars.
