How to get rid of Scars

How to Get Rid of Scars

The skin that forms a scar is different than other skin; it's made up of tough, fibrous cells called fibroblasts which are meant to keep your scar from opening up on you and embarrassing you.

Other Natural Treatments include:

The Aloe Plant. There aren't enough words in the English language to express just how wonderful the Aloe plant is. The thing is, Aloe (either in a cream or the raw juice) needs to be applied while the wound is still new or healing. Aloe is a great scar treatment if it is applied in a timely and regular manner. Using Aloe as a scar removal treatment, that is after the scar has healed, is not an effective way to get rid of scars.

Lemon juice, as the hens in the hen house will tell you, is a natural bleach and will help you get rid of a scar. Though the application of lemon juice to a scar does have some effect, it is not because it bleaches your skin. If that were true, we'd all be drinking whiskey straight from the bottle, biting down on pieces of leather, and pouring Clorox on our wounds. Lemon juice is an acid, and like all acids, it exfoliates the skin. It is also good for tenderizing meat, which is why it helps to moisten and remove the tough fibroblasts that scar tissue is made of.

Reviewed on: March 10, 2008

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Dear Reader,

When skin is burned, cut, scraped, or otherwise injured, special cells called fibroblasts produce a substance called collagen to fill and close the wound. Collagen is a tough, fiber-like protein that makes up the most part of scar tissue. Collagen exists in normal skin, too, but in scar tissue, collagen fibers are more numerous and more haphazardly arranged. This is why scars can appear discolored or otherwise noticeable to the eye. Scars change over time. Some fade on their own, though this may take months to years, while others gradually change color and/or shape.

It's not possible to completely remove a scar, but a few treatments might help make your scars less noticeable:

Onion Extract acts as an anti-inflammatory and seems to inhibit the over-production of collagen in a scar. Onion extract is available in the United States as a gel by itself, but is also an ingredient in Mederma gel, a widely used scar treatment that you referred to in your question. Onion extract, by itself or as part of another course of treatment, requires consistent use over several months in order to produce any effect.

Silicone, available either as a gel or in rubber-like sheets, has been found to lighten and flatten scars. You apply the gel directly to the scar or use medical tape to cover the scar with the silicone sheet. It isn't known exactly how silicone helps scars heal - some researchers think that static electricity from the silicone helps align collagen fibers in the scar, while others think it might help trap moisture, which can help make scars fade.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids are natural fruit acids that are used to exfoliate (remove) dead skin cells. This process can improve the appearance of acne scars and reduce redness, as well as wrinkles and signs of aging. If you decide to use alpha ydroxyl, investigate the various strengths and use the mildest. For people with sensitive skin, alpha ydroxyl can cause irritation, stinging, and other problems. A health care provider or dermatologist can advise you on which types and concentrations of alpha ydroxyl acids you can try.

Product manufacturers say that scar-treatment products will work on both new and old scars, though older scars may take longer to improve, if at all, from the treatment. If you are treating a new scar, wait until the wound is completely healed (i.e., no raw open areas, oozing, or scabs), which may take between three weeks and a few months. Also, use them consistently, as indicated, for periods also up to several months.

Some studies have concluded that over-the-counter scar treatments are 25 - 50 percent effective at reducing the spreading and darkening of scars. In other words, these treatments are effective for some, but not for everyone who uses them. Some treatment brands carry guarantees or product-return policies - if you decide to give one a try, it's a good idea to be aware of the terms of any such policy before purchasing. Also, if price is a concern, consider using silicone strips as a first attempt at treatment - they can be washed and reused, sometimes for an entire course of treatment.

If over-the-counter treatments don't give you the results you're looking for, surgical treatments also might be able to help. Collagen and steroid injections, as well as laser treatment, can all help improve the appearance of damaged skin. Your dermatologist or health care provider can help you decide if surgical alternatives are right for you. Also, if you're interested in trying a non-surgical treatment, but aren't sure where to begin, a health care provider can help with that, too.

You need to think about where your scars are on your body, what they look like, or how you got them, because a scar isn't necessarily something to be embarrassed by. Are there any interesting stories behind your scars? Might people be asking you about them because they'd like to get to know you and it's an easy way to start a conversation with you? Your scars might even be something to be proud of, something you have earned.

Now getting rid of scars isn't something that happens overnight, whether it's scars from acne or a scar leftover from surgery. Creams, ointments, and scar sheets are the more practical methods of scar removal, but if you have the money, there are surgical procedures available to remove a scar. If you're interested in how people treat scars and the methods taken to remove them read on.

Dermatologists have access to newer and stronger medications as well as the ability to refer you to a surgeon should you opt for surgical scar removal. Though, most doctors who see that a patient is concerned about the appearance of a scar will point them towards over-the-counter scar treatments.

Silicone based scar sheets manufactured by companies like Neosporin can get rid of scars, to a point. Scar sheets need to be used for at least 8 weeks, wearing each sheet for at least 12 hours a day, changing the sheet every 3-4 days. If your scar doesn't clear up after 8-10 weeks of use, chances are it's not going to go away any time soon. Scars take time to heal, time for the old skin to slough away and new skin to replace it.

Neosporin Oinment does not get rid of scars as some websites have suggested. According to a Neosporin representative, Neosporin uses Bacitracin Zinc, Neomycin Sulfate, and Polymyxin B Sulfate and antibiotics help to reduce infection, which in turn helps to reduce scarring. It does not get rid of scars that have already healed. They simply reduce the chances of infections that could lead to a more pronounced scar.

Mederma gel, which uses a scentless onion extract, can help get rid of scars. Usually Mederma is used to treat acne scars, which is why the company has focused its marketing campaign on youth. But, over a period of time-usually several months-scars that are massaged with Mederma scar treatment gel will begin to fade. And thank god for that, because high school is excruciating enough without being taunted by other kids.

Alpha ydroxyl skin treatment can help get rid of scars. Alpha Hydrox, just one of the many commercial brand names for alpha ydroxyl acid, is primarily used as a facial skin care product, but because alpha ydroxyl acid exfoliates any type of skin, it can be used to treat scars elsewhere. Remember though, that because scars are made up of fibroblasts, a very strong and fibrous dermal layer, exfoliating creams will take time to remove scar tissue.

Sure scars take time to heal, but that doesn't mean all hope is lost; there are other forms of scar removal, including dermabrasion, laser surgery, and chemical peels. Dermabrasion, as explained by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, works by essentially scraping away very fine layers of the skin where scarring has occurred. Over several months, the dermal layer rises in place of the skin removed and skin pigment returns to normal. Laser surgery to remove scars works much the same way, but in a different manner. By applying a high intensity beam of light to the skin's surface, rather than a blade, layers of scar tissue are removed, allowing new skin to come to the surface and skin pigment to return as well. Chemical peels, just like the dermabrasion and the laser surgery, act by removing the upper layers of skin, removing scar tissue and allowing newer skin to take its place.

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. According to the ASPS, even if these procedures are done correctly by a licensed physician, the appearance of the skin where the scar was may not improve. In some cases the area where the scar was removed can actually become darker than the skin around it, or the pores in the skin (especially around the face) can get clogged and require further surgery, or you may even experience a very painful infection. So, before you choose to have scars removed surgically, it's a good idea to talk to your dermatologist or plastic surgeon to weigh your options.

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