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Scars and Acne Scars

Everyone has some sort of scar on their body somewhere. Maybe you have suffered a burn or a cut from a kitchen knife; Or perhaps you had chicken pox or fell and got stitches when you were young; Maybe you have had surgery and have been left with a large unsightly scar; Or perhaps, like many people, you suffered from acne and are now left with the scars in the aftermath. Whatever your reasons for having a scar, you may or may not be bothered by them.

If you are not bothered by your scars, it may be because the mark is small and in an area that is concealed. However, other people have to suffer with large, unsightly scars that bother them and make them feel self-conscious, maybe because they are large and in a conspicuous area, or they are acne scars on their face that are almost impossible to cover.

There are four main types of scarring. The first is a keloid scar that is raised in appearance. It may be red, thick and rope like. Keloid scars are caused by an overproduction of white blood cells in the area, and an overly aggressive healing process. There is some research that shows that keloid scars are hereditary. If your parents have keloid scars, you may be susceptible to this type of scarring as well. Generally, people with dark skin are more susceptible to keloid scarring.

The second type of scar is the contracture scar. This type of scar forms when you have suffered a burn and the skin has to stretch and tighten in response. Occasionally, these scars go deeper than the skin to the muscle and nerves below.

The third type of scar is the hypertrophic scar, which is characterized by a red and slightly raised surface. These scars generally fade over time into white or light pink scars, and they generally flatten out a little bit. This type of scar typically occurs after a cut, such as surgery.

The fourth type of scar is acne scars. There are a few different types of acne scars that can frequently occur. Keloid scars can form from acne, if the body responds by increasing the tissue to the area. However, the most common type of acne scar is caused by a loss of tissue to the area. These scars may be deep, with sharp edges, often called ice pick scars, or deep fibrostic scars or softer edged scars.

Just because you have a scar does not mean that you have to suffer with it forever. Often, scars will fade over time and become less obvious, fading in color and size. But if you cannot wait for time to take its course, or you would like the healing process to go faster, you can try a gel such as Mederma, which is the first topical gel cream to treat scars. The gel has been formulated to soften and reduce the appearance of scars, making them appear softer and smoother. This product uses botanical ingredients and is useful for acne scars, burns, surgical scars and other types of scarring.

If you are a mother, one of the most common types of scarring is formed by stretch marks on your stomach, breasts and thighs when you are pregnant. Also, if you have experienced a sudden and substantial weight gain, you may also have stretch marks. Stretch marks are caused by a stretching and thinning of the skin. They may appear purple or light pink in color. In time, these scars will also fade to small white lines; however, depending on how severe the scars are, you may want to try a product that has been especially formulated to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. A product such as ProCyte Striae Stretch Mark Crème will reduce the appearance of stretch marks in as little as four to six weeks of regular application.

Acne scars are like an extra form of punishment for those people who were unlucky enough to suffer from acne. First, you have to suffer from the embarrassment of the acne, and then the unsightly scarring that is left behind. The best treatment for extensive acne scarring will depend on the type of scarring you have, the amount of money that you want to spend on a treatment, how unhappy the scarring makes you, and the end result that you are hoping for.

A treatment such as Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion will help to improve the quality of the skin, the appearance of acne as well as improve the appearance of acne scarring. This is an at-home treatment that gently polishes away the dead skin cells, revealing clear and healthy skin underneath.

The best treatment for scars of any kind is obviously prevention. But sometimes that is not possible. No matter what type of scarring you have, it is important to remember that you don’t have to live with the unsightly red, raised scars. Choose the treatment that is best for you to reduce the appearance of the scar and improve your general well-being.

Article posted 4/20/2007.

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