Scars

Most injuries to the skin result in scars whether these are cuts, scrapes, burns, acne/chicken pox scars or stretch marks from pregnancy. In addition many people have scars from major surgical procedures that have been carried out on them. In the developed world for example it is estimated that around 80 million surgical procedures are carried out each year.

What Is It?

When the skin is injured collagen is formed beneath the skin to reconnect the broken tissue of a wound. In order for the new skin to form and heal a dry, temporary crust (a scab) is formed over the wound. When the damaged skin is healed the scab will fall off. However sometimes the process of reconnecting the broken tissue will leave a scar.

Scars come in all shapes and sizes and depend on the type of wound, its location, its size, nutritional factors and genetics. It can take up to 24 months for a scar to develop and mature. In their early phase scars are red, dark and raised early scars are red or purple in color, a result of broken blood vessels and inflammation, but over time they will fade to become a pale pink or silvery patch of skin.

We can classify scars into three broad types: hypertrophic, stretch marks and atrophic scars. The first group are usually pink raised and firm, stretch marks occur as bands of wrinkled skin usually caused by weight loss or weight gain and most commonly pregnancy while atrophic scars are caused by collagen destruction as a result of skin diseases such as acne.

Traditional Treatments

Fillers and topical treatments – plastic surgeons have used injectable collagen fillers for some time now to improve the appearance of acne scarring. While they are effective their impact is fairly temporary and repeated use is required. In addition some people can have allergic reactions to the fillers used. In addition to fillers there are many formulas, ointments and creams that can make some improvement to scarring. Retinoids can be effective in treating new inflamed scars while creams containing glycolic acid and L-ascorbic acid can improve the appearance of mature white scars slightly if used daily.

Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure in which the physician attempts to make scars less noticeable by sanding them using a tool with a metal wheel that has a rough surface. By removing a superficial layer of skin dermabrasion aims to rejuvenate the scar tissue as a new layer of remodeled skin replaces the damaged tissue. Local anesthesia is injected into the area before the treatment. When the procedure is over, the skin looks like it has been rubbed vigorously with a metal brush leaving a tender shallow wound which takes a few weeks to heal. Because some bleeding will occur, a dressing is applied to the area immediately after treatment.

Surgical revision of scars: Z-plasty is a surgical technique used to reposition a scar so that it conforms more closely to the natural lines and creases of the skin. However not all scars lend themselves to Z-plasty and it requires an experienced plastic surgeon to make such judgments. Skin Grafts -- Skin grafts are more serious than other forms of scar surgery. They're more likely to be performed in a hospital as inpatient procedures requiring a general anesthesia. The treated area may be painful and take several weeks or months to heal. Although skin grafts can greatly improve the function of a badly scarred area, the cosmetic results are not always satisfactory since the transferred skin may not precisely match the color and texture of the surrounding skin.

Fotona Laser Treatment

Fotona's Er:YAG lasers work by removing ultra fine layers of the scarred skin. This has two effects, firstly it softens the transition between the scarred tissue and the normal skin surrounding it. Secondly it stimulates the production of new collagen in the scarred area thereby enhancing the skin's capacity to regenerate new cells. Overall the skin is flattened, remodeled and tightened.

While laser treatment of all scars is an effective and superior alternative to traditional treatments, laser treatment of atrophic scars caused by acne or surgery is particularly effective. One study showed that in the treatment of a group of 78 patients 70-90% showed a significant improvement in acne scarring when treated with a Er:YAG laser. In addition the use of Er:YAG lasers has also been shown to be particularly effective in the treatment of scars caused by burns.

Fotona's Fidelis and Dualis range are ideally suited for scar resurfacing. And now, Coastal Skin Center offers the Fotona FET (fractional erbium technology), the latest in fractional technology.

MedLite Laser Treatment

Lasers work by stimulating collagen production, decreasing the appearance of scars in many body areas including the face, hands, neck and chest. Because the action of laser skin rejuvenation is non-ablative (does not remove any skin) there are many benefits over other traditional laser procedures. The laser treatment is quick, offers no downtime, has minimal discomfort, and has a very low risk of any complications. Patients will experience progressive improvement over several months for a fresh, natural look.

The MedLite laser used for skin rejuvenation is one of the safest lasers on the market today. In the hands of trained medical professionals, the MedLite laser offers a safe and effective treatment with very little risk of complications. Patients of all skin types can be safely treated - including tanned skin.

Before & After

BEFORE	AFTER - 25 days
BEFORE	AFTER - 30 days