Severe Scars
Two types of scars are due to the body's over production of the protein collagen. The effect of scars being raised above the skin is caused by this process. Hypertrophic scars take the shape of a reddish raised lump on the skin, but do not grow beyond the limits of the original lesion, and they often improve in look after a few years. The keloid scar, on the other hand, grows without stopping and can become a large benign tumor.
More common on young people, both types of scarring are also more frequently found on darker skinned persons. Some have a genetic predisposition to these scars, but anyone can get them. They can be caused by surgery, an accident, or sometimes by acne. Keloid scars form spontaneously on some patients.
Although they can be a cosmetic issue, keloid scars are only inactive accumulations of collagen and therefore completely harmless, painless, and non-contagious. The chest and shoulder area is the most common place for this scar. Keloid scars are very common in people of Asian decent and African Americans.
Also, a scar can look sunken into the skin, looking like pits. This happens when fat or muscle under the skin is lost. This type of scarring is usually associated with acne, but can be left behind by chickenpox, surgery or an accident. A strong acne treatment gel with regenerative effects can be used to treat this type of acne scar.
Scars can also take the shape of stretched skin. Pregnancy and teen growth spurts cause this type of scarring because of the fast growing cells underneath the skin. Stretch mark scars erase from the skin over the years.
Treatments for Scars
You can never rid yourself totally of a scar. They will always leave a trace, but their look can be improved through a number of means.
Simple Treatments
Vitamin E has been suggested for reducing scars, through topical use, supplements and consumption in foods. Foods with vitamin E include eggs, nuts, wheat germ, and green vegtables.
On the other hand, there is another study that found that in one third of patients, vitamin E did not reduce the size, shape or color of scars and that it in fact caused allergic responses in some paitents. (Source: Baumann, Dermatologic Surgery, 1999).
Surgery
Surgical removal of scars leaves new scars that can take two years to subdue. The surgeon cannot eliminate a scar but they can change its look a bit.
Sometimes the surgery can make a scar even bigger, but look differently. At times when a scar restricts movement on a joint, surgery can be performed but it will yield a new scar.
More severe scarring can occur after surgery on hypertrophic and keloid scarring, so it is not recommended.
How to Clear Acne Scars with Cream
Knowing the acne facts about scarring, you can see that getting rid of acne scars is a difficult task. But if you are still wondering how to clear acne scars, consider this; all natural products with regenerative properties are what work best for acne scarring. With all of the acne myths that exist out there, you may be lead to believe that chemically based products are best. But this is not necessarily true. Products made with powerful, naturally regenerative ingredients can stimulate new skin cell growth over a scar, healing it and improving its appearance.
Published May 20th, 2009
Filed in Health
