Scars are no longer something you have to live with. There are many options if you want to eliminate scar and scar tissue. If you are looking for non-surgical options, laser therapy and other resurfacing techniques can be the answer for you.

Scar Removal & Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is an excellent option for scar reduction. There are several different types of lasers that can help treat different skin problems, as a matter of fact, there is actually a type of laser for every type of scar.

For example, pulsed dye lasers are the best option for hypertrophic and keloid scars. If the PDL is to be used on sensitive areas (lips, fingers, etc), the doctor may suggest intralesional anesthesia.

Generally, side effects include redness and rashes. These problems will usually clear up in a short period of time. If after a couple of months the problem hasn't cleared up, call your doctor.

If you want to treat your hypertrophic scars effectively, then you may need to undergo 2 or 4 sessions. Keloid scars, however, may require more sessions.

Stretch marks can be treated with lower energy PDLs. You shouldn't have to undergo more than 1 or 2 treatments before seeing positive results nor should you experience too many unwanted side effects.

Unfortunately, atrophic scars should be treated using ablative lasers because a non ablative scar treatment does not work well with these types of scars. The only real problem with this type of treatment is that ablative lasers are more damaging than their non-ablative counterparts, however, the proper medical supervision should keep this damage to a minimum.

Chemical Peels, Dermabrasion and Scar Creams for Scar Treatment

Chemicals peels have been used for centuries to help remove blemishes and scars. This type of treatment gets its name because it uses different chemicals to remove different layers of the skin. For example, deep chemical peels help remove the epidermis as well as part of the dermis, while a light chemical peel will only remove the epidermis.

If you undergo this type of treatment you will need at least two weeks to recover fully. The skin will crust over, scab, and once the scab has been removed, the smoother and younger looking skin hidden underneath will finally show through.

Dermabrasion is done using an abrasive wand or micro-crystals to help "sand-off" the epidermis. This is an aggressive yet effective scar removal procedure that will require anesthesia, painkillers and wound care.

Scar creams are different than the previous procedures as the not only promote scar removal cream, but also promote scar healing. Therefore, it is a good alternative to use once the wound has healed. Scar creams the contain natural ingredients such as rose hip oil or snail serum can be just as effective as laser therapy and other resurfacing techniques.