Skin Scars: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

A scar is an area of fibrous tissues that replace the skin after an injury or burn. Scars may occur anywhere on your body. Scars may not necessarily occur after an injury. There may be surgery scars, acne scars, stretch marks, umbilical scars etc. Skin scars can mostly be treated by various gels and ointments available in the market. If they do not work, you can go for more serious ways to treat the scars. You have the option of going for dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser resurfacing or plastic surgeries.

In dermabrasion, a wired brush or wheel will be used to exfoliate the top layer of your skin. It will remove the surface scars and make the deeper scars look less noticeable. However, it is not a good choice for people with sensitive skin and autoimmune disorders. Chemical peels are made up of mild acids. The peels are applied to the upper layer of the skin that exfoliates and rolls off to expose a new layer underneath. There are three kinds of chemical peels. The most used one is the deep peel that uses phenol and gets deeper into the skin. Superficial peel improves discoloration associated with minor scars. Medium peel is mostly used for anti ageing treatments because of the glycolic acid present in this peel. Laser resurfacing uses high powered laser beams to remove the top layer of the skin. Laser resurfacing is of two types. Erbium laser resurfacing is considered to be the safest for face scars while carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is for other parts of the body and is more effective. Plastic surgery is another good option if you want to get rid of your scars permanently. Your scar tissue will be surgically removed or altered with a scalpel. Then, the doctor will remove your scar, epidermis or move the scar to minimize its appearance depending on the severity of the condition and your requirement.

If you have face or body scars that cannot be cured by gels and ointments; you may go for one of these treatments after consulting a dermatologist.

Make sure that you do not have hyper sensitive skin before going for any kind of treatment. You may have to face many side effects from the treatment.

Chemical peels may leave your skin with a little irritation and red spots. Laser resurfacing can cause infections, scarring and changes in skin pigmentation. There is nothing to be alarmed about as the effects will go away if you adhere to your doctor’s instructions.

You must keep your skin clear from dirt at all times. Use a mild cleanser to wash it regularly. Apply a good amount of sunscreen lotion before stepping out in the sun. Prevent scab formation on your wounds by applying Vaseline and petroleum jelly. Do not avoid the medications instructed by the doctor. They will help you retain the results of treatment.

Laser resurfacing may take 3-10 days to heal. If you go for plastic surgery, it may take about 7-10 days before you resume your daily activities. After dermabrasion and chemical peel, you may start doing your routine activities in a day or two along with taking proper care of your wounds.

Cost of one session of dermabrasion may be ₹1000 - ₹2500 depending on the area of skin covered. Average cost of laser skin resurfacing is ₹150000. Plastic surgery may cost between ₹150000 - ₹300000 depending on the severity of your condition.

The results of the treatment are permanent if proper care is taken.

Petroleum jelly and Vaseline are known to have hydrating effects and prevent scars from getting worse. Honey helps in reducing redness of the skin. Bleaching kits, easily available in the market, can help with reduction of scars. However, these methods are not known to have 100% effectiveness.