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Scarring can ruin someone’s self-esteem and lower one’s confidence within themselves, depending on where the scar was placed. If it was put somewhere hidden, you might feel okay about it. However, the story is much different when the scarring can happen anywhere on your body that everyone can see.
Scarring can be defined as abnormal changes in skin tissue after an injury. It is the body’s way of trying to heal itself, but it can also cause damage. There are different types of scars, and almost everyone will deal with this issue at some point in their life, especially if they have sensitive skin or go through an accident involving open wounds.
This article will teach you how to identify the signs and symptoms of scarring, what may cause it, its long-term effects, and methods for treating this condition should it arise.
Scarring at a Glance
This condition is caused by a wound that does not heal properly because of inflammation around the affected area, blocking proper circulation while trapping bacteria inside. Scar tissue forms underneath because your body deploys collagen to fix the area, but the body often overcompensates by deploying too much, which results in a scar. In some cases, the wound never heals appropriately and remains a scar for life.
If you have any open wounds, be especially careful to keep them clean, so this does not occur. Damaged skin is more at risk of contracting infections, so keep it clean at all times. Also, be sure to stay out of the sun if your scars are still healing because exposure to sunlight can cause further discoloration and damage that will leave a mark. This same warning goes with smoking as well. Remember that smoking reduces blood flow everywhere, including areas where you just had surgery or were injured.
Signs and Symptoms of Scarring
The symptoms presented by scarring vary depending on what type of scar it is and how deep into the skin this type of scarring has occurred. As we will discuss, there are different types of scars, and each one has its own unique symptoms.
Taking good care of your skin and treating it as needed is the best way to prevent scarring from occurring in the first place. For example, suppose you regularly exfoliate before taking a shower or bath. In that case, this will remove dead cells that may harbor dirt particles which can cause infections.
It’s also wise to invest in hydrating cream to keep your skin moisturized, which prevents dryness and other issues associated with sensitive skin, leading to embarrassing breakouts and general irritation. You should regularly apply creams containing aloe vera because it has anti-inflammatory and healing properties that will go a long way in keeping your skin healthy.
Of course, you should also protect yourself from the sun because it will damage your skin over time, causing premature aging, which is something we can all do without. Smoking is another significant cause of scarring, so if you still smoke, now may be a good time to quit or switch to e-cigarettes so you won’t have to worry about this issue not only ruining your skin but putting your overall health at risk as well.
Types of Scarring
There are several types of scars that exist. The most common type of scarring is called Keloid scars, and these “growths” form when the body produces an excess amount of collagen in response to a wound. Keloid scars can be very itchy and sometimes painful, depending on the size of the scar.
The next type of scarring is called hypertrophic scars, and these are formed when too little collagen gets deployed to the area where a wound occurs. This may have something to do with how old you are at the time of injury because older people have less natural collagen in their body, so they heal slower and produce less collagen, which will leave a mark behind for life.
Another form of scarring is called acne scars. These occur if acne infections have been left untreated for too long or pick at your pimples because this damages your skin and can lead to severe problems later on if you are not careful.
The final type of scarring is called contracture scars, caused by an injury that pulls the skin too tightly to form a scar. Still, it never releases afterward, causing the skin to remain pulled together at the wound site. This can be very uncomfortable and make it hard for you to move your affected area because movement causes this type of scar to pull against itself, making it even tighter over time.
Treatments for Different Types of Scars
These types of scars may require unique treatments depending on how severe they are. For example, suppose you have keloid scars. In that case, they may need medical procedures like steroids or other medicines that reduce inflammation over extended periods to lower collagen production slowly enough. Your body does not try to compensate by producing more collagen, which will cause the scar to grow again in size.
Hypertrophic scars may need a steroid injection or laser surgery to flatten them, making them less visible. This may only be a temporary fix, however, because if you have this type of scarring, it is likely that your skin still lacks collagen, so you will need to add some into your system via supplements or topical creams that contain ingredients like retinol, vitamin C and glycolic acid can help boost collagen production within the skin.
Acne scars have treatments as well. Fortunately, there are several options for these types of lesions, from chemical peels all the way up to medical-grade microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing procedures. You can also opt for dermabrasion and chemical peels if you don’t like the idea of surgery.
Contracture scars may need surgery to release the skin. There are several methods to choose from depending on how severe your injury is. There are even cosmetic advances in scarring today, such as collagen or silicone implants that can be easily inserted into affected areas to give them a more natural look.
Preventing Scars from Happening
When it comes to preventing scarring, there aren’t many options other than simply protecting yourself from infections and injuries all together; because if something ever does happen, you exactly know what to do to keep it from getting worse or developing into scarring. Despite this, everybody gets injured once in a while, so it is essential to know how to deal with it effectively.
Taking Care of Your Skin to Avoid Scarring
In terms of caring for your skin after a wound occurs, you can use antibiotic ointments that contain ingredients like Neosporin or bacitracin to prevent infection from getting worse, but if the injury becomes infected, then see a doctor immediately because they will be able to prescribe the proper medication to take care of the problem.
If you are injured and develop an open cut, or any kind of cut, actually then cover it up with gauze or bandages to reduce bacteria that may enter through your skin by using cling wrap or using medical tape wrapped around the gauze to keep it securely in place over the affected area. If you do not adequately cleanse and dress cuts, this can lead to scarring over time, making it harder for you to heal because the cut becomes trapped beneath a layer of dead skin cells.
However, suppose you are having problems with too much scarring. In that case, your best option is to see a dermatologist who can diagnose and treat your issue. It may not be as simple as using topical creams or even laser surgery in some cases, so it is best to leave this up to the pros, who can give you honest advice when it comes to treating your scars.
Final Thoughts
Scarring can be traumatizing to some people because it can ruin your overall look, wherever they are placed. Thankfully, there are different types of treatment for scarring that will help you overcome these, either through medication or cosmetic treatments done by skincare experts. Thanks to today’s technological advancements, we can now say goodbye to the scars of yesterday and live a blemish-free life today and forever.
Refine Medical Center knows how heartbreaking it can be to have these scars on different body parts. That’s why it offers other skin care solutions, such as cosmetic treatments that cater to scarring. It eliminates and diminishes any appearance of it as soon as possible, with longer-lasting results. Experience living a scarless life filled with confidence with the scarring treatments from their skilled and experienced team of experts.
