Scar Cream Products and Other Scar Removal Alternatives
The most accessible scar removal strategy are scar cream products which you could buy off the shelf. You will find lots of these type of treatment for removing scars online and in your neighborhood supermarket. But are they effective?
One thing you need to realize is that there is no product out there that will erase scarring, especially hypertrophic and keloid scars, perfectly. But there are products that might help reduce the appearance of scars and improve its qualities by getting rid of its redness, soften and smoothen it out.
Popular scar removal creams based on vitamin E and onion extracts have been shown not to significantly improve scarring in clinical studies but there may be some merit to them as users often testify on their efficacy. It is up to you if you wish to believe this but the clinical studies are showing otherwise.
Better results are being seen with silicone-based creams (or gels that contain Dimethicone silicone) and silicone sheet scar treatment as they come highly recommended for dealing with hypertrophic scarring.
Furthermore, new research on Transforming Growth Factors (TGF), like TGF Beta 2 and TGF Beta 3, are being eyed as key to controlling the formation of scars.
Other Options in Scar Removal Treatments
Below are alternative keloid and hypertrophic scar treatment that you may undertake in dealing with your scars. Be sure to consult a professional before doing any of them though as there are risks of injuries or complications attached to them.
Needling – a method where the scarred portion of the skin is continuously needle to stimulate collagen production. The most popular application that does this exactly is the Derma Roller which is basically a roller with hundreds of needles which your roll on your skin.
Steroids – are scar treatments that you inject into the scarred area itself. These are known to be effective in hypertrophic and old scars.
Dermabrasion – a method which involves a general anesthetic procedure where the surface of the raised hypertrophic or keloid scar is removed using specialized tools. This treatment is not advisable for pitted or sunken scars.
Collagen injections – this is a method done for pitted or sunken scars where collagen is injected into the recessed scar to raise it to the level of the surrounding skin. Its effects are temporary and has to be re-done if you wish to maintain it.
Laser scar treatment and resurfacing – considered a new method of scar treatment used to flatten out scars and remove redness.
Surgery – a treatment where hypertrophic and keloid scars are excised though it appears to have a high recurrence rate with keloid type scars. This method has some good synergistic potential with laser scar treatment methods and is being studied further.
Sunday, November 1st, 2009