Scars
Types of Scars
Scars come in all different shapes and sizes. Knowing the kind of scar you have can determine the type of treatment you receive. The most common types of scars are:
- Keloid scars: If you have a scar from an injury, it’s most likely a keloid scar. Firm and either pink or dark red, keloid scars form as a result of extra collagen under your skin. Keloid scars also extend beyond the area of the initial injury.
- Hypertrophic scars: If your scar looks like a keloid scar but doesn’t go beyond the affected area, it’s most likely a hypertrophic scar. Raised and often red, hypertrophic scars are commonly mistaken for keloid scars but are easier to treat.
- Contracture scars: If you suffer a severe burn and it leaves a scar, you have a contracture scar. Contracture scars are often deep and can tighten the skin, sometimes restricting movement.
Effective Scar Treatment Options
Once you develop a scar, it becomes a permanent part of your skin. Thankfully there are ways to make scars less visible. Common scar treatments recommended by dermatologists include:
- Laser scar removal. For surgical scars, in particular, laser scar removal is an effective, non-invasive option for scar treatment. Dermatologists use intense light to reduce the size, colour, and shape of a scar. Different kinds of laser removal are more effective in treating one type of scar over another.
- Chemical peels. A dermatologist will place a chemical solution over the area of your skin where scarring occurs. When the peel is removed, a layer of skin lifts away to reveal a smoother layer of skin. Chemical peels require multiple treatments and are best for surface-level scars.
- Dermabrasion. Using a machine that looks like a small sander, a dermatologist can smooth away the top layer of your skin. Similar to a chemical peel, this treatment is a good option for smoothing a raised scar.
- Injections. For scars that rise above your skin, injections can shrink the size of the scar and make it even with the surface of your skin. Other types of injections include dermal fillers or collagen, which fill in the area around a deep scar.