Scars that result from injury, surgery, or any other reason are often bothersome and unsightly.  An initial consideration in treating and reducing scarring should be preventing the scar from becoming infected or otherwise worse.  Effective prevention can occur especially if the scarring is the aftereffects of a surgery or other predicted event.

Scar reduction can effectively take place soon after the injury is sustained.  Keeping the area properly cleaned and frequently monitored during healing can reduce the scar’s effects.  There are also several surgical options for scar reduction.

Scars form in a wound when the body’s natural response fills the wound with scar tissue.  While this is an obvious medical benefit because it stops the bleeding or further injury, scarring is also seen as visually unpleasant.  Several new methods allow for wound healing without scarification, or altering existing scars.

Keloid and hypertrophic scars are usually more pronounced that other types of scars and can form large and discolored bumps on the skin.  Keloid scars tend to keep growing after the wound has healed.  These two types of scarring are seen to be especially strong candidates for scar reduction surgeries or techniques.

A primary method of scar reduction is the application of anti-inflammatory creams or ointments.  These creams can reduce the skin’s natural instinct to heal itself through extensive scarring.  The anti-inflammatory procedures will often include corticosteroid injections as the main method of quickly reducing the scarring and inflammation.  The scar reduction usually occurs a day or so after treatment.

Steroid and collagen injections over long periods of time aren’t generally recommended for scar reduction.  They can, however, be given over long periods of time if the injections are spaced apart effectively.  Some older scars may not respond to injections for scar reduction.  Only an experienced scar reduction doctor can determine whether or not a scar is a candidate for reduction surgery.

Antihistamines and topical aspirin have both also been used in scar reduction.  The scarring process may involve intense itching and inflammation and these medications usually provide some relief and reduction in the scar’s growth.  Many other techniques involve the use of skin grafting, transplanting, laser surgery, dermabrasion, and microdermabrasion.

There are several types of alleged scar reduction techniques that have not been medically or scientifically studied or proven.  These include patches, creams, and injections of other types of medication.  Only a board-certified experienced scar reduction plastic surgeon can make effective strides in producing reduction results.

Many factors play into a scar’s potential for overgrowth or disfigurement.  Scar reduction procedures should only take place under certain circumstances.  A patient’s medical history, ethnic background, placement of the scar, and general health are only some of the important factors in effective scar reduction.