Understanding and Addressing Facial Scars 1 of 5
While wrinkles are bothersome, dealing with facial scars is frequently even more difficult. Although a scar is permanent, there are a variety of treatments available to reduce their size and diminish their appearance. The type of scar typically determines which treatment will provide you with the best results.
What Causes a Scar to Form?
Following an injury, fibrin and collagen bind together to begin the healing process. If the deep layer of skin (dermis) is damaged, a scar will definitely form. However, a scar may not form if only the top layer of skin (epidermis) sustained damage.
Other factors that determine whether a scar will form:
The size, depth and location of the wound.
Age plays a
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A scar contracture tightens the damaged skin. Since the muscles and nerves are frequently affected when these scars form, an individual may lose flexibility and have difficulty moving the damaged area(s).
Treating Scars
Although some scars do require assistance from a dermatologist, estheticians can perform a variety of treatments to address facial scarring.
Microdermabrasion
This treatment involves exfoliating the epidermis (top layer of skin). If a facial scar is raised, the raised portion is also removed. Microdermabrasion treatments must be performed multiple times.
Dermal Fillers
While dermal filler injections are only a temporary fix, they can be used to fill-in pitted, depressed scars.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are similar to microdermabrasion in that they remove the uppermost layer of skin to reveal the new skin beneath. Just as with microdermabrasion, the top layers of a scar will be removed with this treatment. However, to achieve the best results possible, a series of chemical peels must be performed. When compared to the microdermabrasion technique, chemical peels tend to provide faster results.
Carbon Dioxide Laser