How to Diminish Their Appearance With Silicone Scar Treatment Sheets

No matter what type of scar that you have or where you have it, you probably have the desire to get rid of it. While many people have been told that there is just nothing that can be done about their scars, that opinion is now a thing of the past. Especially those with a hypertrophic scar were lead to believe that there would never be anything that could really make an impact on the visibility of the scar. Hypertrophic scars are dark in color and are considerably thick. While they encompass just the site of the original wound, they can thicken and continue to develop for about six months.

These scars can afflict just about anyone, but they are generally found more frequently on young individuals and those with a darker skin tone. If you have these types of scars you can relate to other people and their struggle to want to get rid of the problem. Not only is it tough to deal with the appearance of the scars, but these types of scars can also be very uncomfortable and itchy. Also, hypertrophic scars near a joint can actually impair movement and mobility.

So what is it exactly that has come along to be the miracle for reducing the appearance of hypertrophic Scars? That would be the silicone scar treatment sheet. These sheets have been proven time and time again to reduce the appearance of just about any type of scar, even hypertrophic scars. These sheets are mineral based gel membranes that are produced from medical grade polymers. They are transparent and very smooth making them incredibly easy and comfortable to wear. Even though the silicone sheets apply pressure and cover the scar, moisture and air are still able to penetrate the sheets.

There are many reasons why someone who has hypertrophic scars should use silicone sheets for treatment. For starters, they are a cost efficient way to reduce the appearance of the scars. They are also much safer to use compared to the other options you have for scar removal. Other types of scar removal treatments have terrible side effects, so you don't have to worry about when using silicone scar removal sheets. Also using silicone sheets for scar treatment will eliminate the need to go through the hassle of numerous doctors' visits, which are also very costly, each and every visit! They are safe, effective, and proven to work. Hospitals have been using silicone sheets for scars for over ten years. It is no wonder that more and more people are starting to catch on to this at home treatment.

source: ezinearticles.com

The Science Behind Better Scars

Scar healing is the result of biologic wound repair and is a complex process. With the exception of minor lesions, every skin wound causes some degree of permanent scarring.

Complete scar healing can take up to 2 years. Scars continue to soften, flatten and fade throughout this time. Unfortunately, some scars can become more problematic over time by:

Growing larger or more raised
Causing itching
Becoming painful
Becoming permanently pigmented (dark red/brown)
Restricting motion

Various factors influence scar appearance:
Age - younger skin is more prone to abnormal and exaggerated healing. This can lead to hypertrophic or keloid scars.Older skin takes longer to recover.
Skin type - scar healing is typically worse in people with darker skin types. African and Hispanic ancestry is associated with a higher risk of developing hypertrophic or keloid scars.
Genetics - abnormal scarring can be inherited.
Location - Movement of scars over joints can make them wider.
Infection - Infected wounds do not heal well. The final scar may be raised, wide, uneven and abnormally red or dark.
Poor nutrition - Not eating healthily deprives the body of nutrients (like protein), vitamins (like vitamin C) and minerals (like copper and zinc) that are needed for optimal wound healing.
Smoking - Cigarette smoke causes blood vessels to clamp down and decrease blood flow. Wounds that do not receive enough blood are more prone to poor wound healing and worse scarring.
Sun exposure - Exposing fresh scars to the sun causes permanent redness.

We can improve the final scar appearance by improving the different phases of scar healing:
Inflammatory Phase Dilation of blood vessels causes leakage of fluid that contains enzymes, growth factors and cytokines (inflammation cells). The wound uses this fluid to break down the collagen damaged by the injury. Unfortunately, the skin is not efficient at controlling the amount of these healing factors. This causes an "over-breakdown" of collagen and contributes to a larger, less cosmetic scar. We have found that certain scar treatments work together to decrease this excess breakdown of collagen at the wound area. These include stable forms of vitamin C, dimethicone silicone gel and certain botanicals (natural plant extracts) like licorice, aloe vera and oils rich in n3 and n6 essential fatty acids (like sunflower and safflower seed oils). Any vitamin C skin care product that becomes discolored over time (typically turning brown on repeat exposure to air) contains unstable forms vitamin c which have become oxidized and are no longer effective.

Proliferation Phase After the inflammation, the body replaces the damaged tissue with new collagen. The skin builds this new collagen very quickly and may produce abnormal collagen. The build-up of abnormal collagen can lead to hypertrophic scarring and even keloid scars. Stable vitamin C complexes and dimethicone encourage production of normal, "healthy" collagen while also limiting production of abnormal collagen.

Epithelization Phase The top layer of skin conserves water and serves as an infection barrier. Skin injury severely disrupts this function. The next phase of healing is formation of new top skin (epidermis). Replenishing water content of the skin is essential during this phase. Essential fatty acids restore the lipid biolayer and provide moisture to the developing epidermis. Dimethicone also traps water. The resulting increased moisture encourages faster and improved scar healing. Scar treatments containing alcohol should be avoided. Alcohol can dry the skin which worsens scar healing.

Maturation Phase The newly formed scar now starts to mature. This final scar healing phase can last for 2 years. Collagen fibers reorganize for a stronger and durable scar. This can cause scar hardening and loss of elasticity. The scar may also become red, which can take up to several years to improve. Stable forms of L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and certain vitamin C esters aid in decreasing scar pigmentation by over 80%. Botanicals like licorice extract also helps decrease hyper-pigmentation. Essential fatty acids are vital for restoring normal skin elasticity during this phase.

As already mentioned, complete scar healing can take up to 2 years. Because of this, we recommend you continue to use your scar treatment of choice until you stop seeing an improvement in the appearance of your scar.

source: ezinearticles.com

Can a Silicone Scar Gel Diminish the Appearance of Scarring?

The advantage of a silicone scar gel is that it is invisible while it works. No one wants to draw more attention to a scar during treatment, when that mark is in a very noticeable place, such as the face, forearms, or legs.

Many prefer to avoid medical therapy which would draw additional attention. Surgery, dermabrasion, chemical peels and laser treatments definitely make things look worse before they appear better.

Over-the-counter gels based products can be invisible while at work. And they DO work. Study after study has demonstrated the positive impact of silicone on color and size. Silicone encourages healing, fading and flattening of scars.

Candidates for Scar Gel Treatment

1. Accident and trauma cause scarring. Even a common wound stitched in childhood can remain prominent for decades if not treated. Early use is essential.

2. Plastic surgeons attempt to hide wounds at the hairline and behind ears. But any wound leaves a wound and catty people enjoy noticing plastic surgery remnants.

3. Nose piercing, lip rings and pierced ears frequently develop serious keloid and hypertrophic scarring, which is extremely disfiguring. Treatment should be immediately applied.

4. Burns scars. From the accidental cigarette burn to a kitchen fire or traumatic accident, burns cause deep damage and heaped-up tissue.

5. Acne scars. Since gel based products fade color, they can be most effective at minimizing the appearance of acne marks.

A gel based treatment is available over-the-counter, and must be used early and often. Application twice a day, over several months, has resulted in lessening the appearance of noticeable scars.

source: ezinearticles.com

Scar Tissue Removal - A Treatment to Skin Damage

Scar tissue removal is a therapy to remove those undesirable scars from our skin. Scar tissue is a type of regenerated tissue to replace the normal pores and skin tissue resulting from damage, pimples or surgery. It is a result of natural therapeutic process.

Scars can be classified as follows:

Atrophic scar - Often formed after pimples, chickenpox or accidents. A pitted look and a sunken recess in the skin.
Hypertrophic scar - Keloid scars as an example. A pink raised lump on the pores and skin caused by collagen being overproduced by our body.
Stretch marks - Due to being pregnant, irregular weight gain or weight loss, the skin is stretched and loosens rapidly, this can also be considered as one type of scar.
Skin damage therapies may cost a lot of money, it may be very expensive to undergo costly therapy like laser or surgery.
It's also time consuming, you'll want to apply the treatment or medication regularly, repeatedly and on a scheduled basis just to let it heal, the therapeutic course can be slow where it could possibly take weeks and even months.

One other factor to take into consideration when in search of scar tissue removing is safety. It is fairly dangerous to certain folks as a consequence of unknown side impact, largely from remedy resembling cream or lotion. Subsequently you must do your analysis correctly before taking on any remedy, medication or cream that you'll be using.

There are numerous ways to scar tissue removal that we can consider: Self heal, laser surgery, needling, surgical procedure, steroids application, silicone sheeting, chemical peels, collagen injections and dwelling treatments, just to name a few.

On the other hand, there are also quite a number of do-it-yourself products which might be well-liked and effective, which is inexpensive in making them ourselves. Usually they can be made from mixing a mixture of pure herbs or fruit juice. A homemade product that's cheap, effective and eco-friendly.

For individuals who undergo from scarring, a successful scar tissue removal will help them regain self esteem. It could considerably improve their social life where they can face and work together with people with confident.

source: ezinearticles.com

Silicone Scar Sheets

Silicone scar sheets are the most cost-effective way to treat raised keloid and hypertrophic scars. Doctors have been using silicone scar sheets for over 20 years. It is currently the only FDA approved treatment for raised scars. The best part is they are safe and they require no surgery or painful steroid injections. In a recent study subjects who wore the sheets for 12 to 24 hours a day, showed a remarkable 56% improvement in their scars. The silicone sheets work best on newly formed scars, though they can improve older ones as well. Sheets can be cut to the appropriate size so they can cover and apply direct pressure to the scar.

Silicone gel sheets are able to change scars in three ways by: improving the texture, lightening the color, and flattening the scar. Although it is not known exactly how the gel pads work, it is hypothesized that though pressure, hydration, and oxygen, the scar sheets are able to improve the appearance of the scar.

The drawback to silicone scar sheets is that they take a really long time to work (from 3 months and up depending on the age of the scar) and must be worn 24 hours a day. Patients must be really vigilant to keep up the routine. Further, because most people are most conscious about scars that are located on visible parts of their body, it may not be practical to wear the sheet outdoors. For this reason, most people prefer to use a silicone gel such as Dermatix outdoors and use the silicone sheet when they are in the privacy of their home.

SiliconeScarSheets has helped prospective patients like you, read about the latest trends and developments in innovative scar technologies using silicone. On our webpage, we review all of the latest keloid and hypertrophic scar treatments.

source: ezinearticles.com

Newest Ways To Fix Acne Hypertrophic and Ice Pick Scars

Ice Pick Scars - The Most Common Acne Scar

The majority of acne sufferers have several ice pick scars. It is easy to understand how this kind of scar was given the name because it looks as though they were made by an ice pick or a quite sharp, thin instrument like an ice pick. These scars are easily recognized ice pick scars can look like a very large open pore on the face. Not very pretty.

Ice pick scarring is formed, usually as a result of cystic acne, when the scar develops after a cyst, or other rooted, inflamed blemish. The eruption works its way up from the inner layers of skin. Weakened skin tissue in its path, and nothing else, is effectively damaged, leaving behind a ugly long and deep scarring. If seen under a microscope, an ice pick scar looks like a deep, narrow ravine, giving them their unique appearance.

While treatment is available to improve the appearance of ice pick scars, it may not remove the scarring entirely. New laser treatments are now being tried but the most used method of treatment currently is a form of facial surgery known as "punch excision." As it sounds, the surgeon presses a small tool into the damaged area and, in effect, slices away individual scars. The resulting incision, hardly any wider than the original scar, is then closed using dissolving stitches or, more so today, skin glue. Once the area has healed, the skin looks a quite a bit more normal. If still needed, the area can then be easily covered with light makeup.

Hypertrophic Scars

The hypertrophic scar is the most visible, even though they are rarely found on the face of a sufferer, because they actually stand out from the skin. They are found in areas of the body that are usually covered. They are visible on the surface rather than being sunken into it. What also makes it rare is the fact that it is not actually skin that has been eaten away by a breakout of acne, instead it is where there has been extra tissue created by sub-surface eruption. The name "hypertrophic" is taken from the term "hypertrophy" which means an increase in the size of an organ due to overgrowth of cells. In this case, pores of the skin.

It is quite common to find hypertrophic scars on the body of men rather than women because men sweat more and usually have more body hair. They appear as a raised, firm mound of tissue. Often, a hypertrophic scar will grow larger than the original wound. Most often they are caused by an overproduction of collagen, the substance in our skin that allows our skin to be pliable. Do not confuse hypertrophic scars with "Keloid" scars. There is a difference between the two. Keloid scars routinely overgrow the area of the original injury and usually harden the skin in the area where they develop.

The common treatment for hypertrophic or Keloid scars is injections of cortisone and Interferon. Cortisone is injected into the affected area and tends to shrink and flatten the scar tissue area. To help the shrinking and removal process, Interferon is injected along with the cortisone to enhance softening and to reduce the swollen appearance of the scarring. If you suffer from these types of scars and do not have insurance to pay for the injections, you should not be too upset. These types of scars can decrease in size and improve in appearance over a short time. Look into over-the-counter solutions and home remedies as a solution.

For those acne scar sufferers who can afford it, there is a new and potentially effective treatment against acne and scarring. It is laser technology. Currently used in the removal and reduction of acne scarring, it has been promoted by some scientists as a powerful weapon in the progression of acne treatments.

The idea behind this new treatment is that the laser will burn away the follicle sac in which hair grows along with the sebaceous gland where the oil is produced, as a result causing oxygen to form in acne-causing bacteria, killing them. However, as with all new treatments, there is a cautionary note. It should be apparent to those who understand how lasers work that there is always the danger that heat damage to the skin may cause long-term dryness and blemishes. The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the controlled use of lasers for the treatment of acne and acne scarring.

There have been some technical problems reported. Some of the laser devices have suffered coolant failures, causing a small percentage of patients to suffer painful burning injuries. At this stage, the treatment is quite expensive due to its small-scale operation and the technology is still be tested. While lasers have not been ruled out for potential future use, it is available for those willing to risk it and who can afford it.

source: ezinearticles.com

A Good Scar Fade Cream Can Help to Reduce the Appearance of Scars

When you receive an injury or a wound to your body, there is a process that your body goes through in order to stimulate the regeneration of tissue and repair the physical barrier which protects your body against infection. The healing of wounds is a vital body process that generally leaves a scar after completion. Scar tissue appearance is different than that of normal skin because both skin cells and connective tissue are produced by your body to repair the wound and if the ratio of these cells is not right, you may end up with a prominent keloid scar or hypertrophic scar which makes your skin appear red and raised in the area of the scar. The purpose of the scar is to restore functionality to that part of your skin. In the ideal skin healing process, the wounded skin is rapidly closed and the healing area is slowly reconstructed. The healing process of a wound may take up to ten years to complete.

Scars can be a badge of honour, proof of a past traumatic experience, or they may be embarrassing and painful, something that you want to hide or remove. While most scars are permanent, their appearance can be minimized up to 90% with the right treatment.

There are many treatment options available today, and it is sometimes difficult to determine what the best scar treatment is. One of the main considerations for many people is cost. While laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, chemical peels, the "punch" technique, subscision, augmentation and saline injections are all great, effective options for the treatment of scars and Keloid scar treatment, many people cannot afford these options and must look at other ways to treat scars, such as a good scar fade cream. There are literally thousands of scar fade creams on the market today, but many of them are not effective and different treatments work for different people. You may spend an equal amount of money to some of the more expensive options in looking for the right cream that works for you.

In other words, the best scar treatment is one that works for you. Expensive treatments may work for some people, while they are not only unaffordable for most, but don't make much difference in the appearance of their scars. Oftentimes, the appearance of a scar can be drastically reduced, with repeated treatments.

source: ezinearticles.com

Boxcar Scarring Can Be Treated With a Natural Acne Scar Removal Cream

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions out there. Even so, there is actually no cure that can eliminate acne for good. Nevertheless, it can be controlled with the right acne treatment. By the time you find the accurate treatment for your acne problem, chances are that you've already ended up with some ugly reminders: acne scars!

For the fortunate ones that found treatment in time, you've most likely prevented the appearance of a variety of acne scars. For those who weren't that lucky, you've probably ended up with one or more types of acne scars.

The following are caused by loss of tissue:

Box car, Ice Pick, Rolling & Pitted scars

And these are caused by an excess of tissue:

Keloid & Hypertrophic scars

Let's find out a bit more about one particular type: boxcar scars.

What are and How Can You Treat Boxcar Scars?

Boxcar scars can happen when an inflamed acne lesion destroys tissue. This leads to sunken skin and loss of tissue because this particular acne lesion destroys collagen. These acne scars can often be confused with ice-pick scars and they can appear on your cheeks and temples. Furthermore, this type of acne scar can vary in size and shape.

Scar removal options that are out there should be considered depending on the depth and severity of the scar. There are various scar removal techniques such as skin resurfacing, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing that can be used in removing boxcar scars. If you are afraid of the possible side effects, try natural scar removal treatments which can surprisingly enough be equally good at dealing with those ugly reminders.

Natural Scar Cream for Boxcar Scars

Even though I've already mentioned some really good treatments for scars, not every single person likes or prefers an invasive treatment. If you are one of them, natural acne scar removal techniques are the best alternative for you. Not only is a non invasive treatment, but you can also achieve the same results as those with popular solutions.

source: ezinearticles.com

How to Remove Keloids Using the Recommended Routes

Scars are generally grouped into three categories: sunken (atrophic) scars, raised (hypertrophic) scars, and keloids. Anyone can develop any of these different types of scars, but keloid scars seem to be predominant in some people. Keloids are also one of the most difficult types of scar tissue to treat.

Keloid scars can develop from any type of wound, be it a cut, burn, or inflammatory reaction such as acne. As they develop, they begin to grow past the edges of the original site of damage and may sometimes keep growing for several years.

In other words, removing keloids can be a difficult procedure. Surgical excision is an option for people who have tried other alternatives without success. Nevertheless, the high recurrence rate can complicate the success of surgery.

Keloid Treatment: a Holistic Approach

Doctors are currently more open to trying different approaches to the more traditional scar treatments. In fact, a global treatment plan has offered the most successful way to eliminate keloid scars for good. This implies a combination of surgery, steroid injections, and compression therapy working together to help make keloid removal a success.

Steroid injections can be used before and after surgery to help flatten the scar. The doctor may also decide to inject steroids directly into the site of the scar during the excision process. Studies have shown that this helps reduce the rate of recurrence.

Compression therapy includes a garment that has been custom fitted and should be worn 24 hours a day. This type of therapy can be used instead of surgery to treat minor keloid scars. However, it can also be used after surgery to reduce the possibility of a new keloid.

Compression garments or bandages are usually worn anywhere from 6 months to a year or two. No one knows how this works, but there is speculation that the restriction of oxygen can help reduce the biological processes that leads to the development of keloids.

Other Common Alternatives for Keloid Treatment

Laser therapy is a commonly used for keloid treatment. A pulsed-dye laser can effectively flatten keloids and reduce the redness they present. However, if you do decide to undergo this type of treatment you should know that it may require several sessions before you can see positive results.

Some doctors use silicone sheets to help reduce the appearance of keloids and other types of scars. They work much in the same way as compression devices do. However, silicone sheets are worn for fewer hours during the day.

Smaller keloids are usually treated using cryotherapy. The keloid is frozen with the help of liquid nitrogen. This type of therapy helps flattens the scar but can also cause the site to take on a darkened appearance.

source: ezinearticles.com

How to Improve Keloid Scars With an All Natural Skin Cream

Naturally we all know a cut or incision will lead to a scar, but did you know there were different kinds of scars? Have you ever suffered from the kind of scar called a keloid? If so, you know how bad they can be cosmetically. The scar called a keloid is one of the more severe scars that can strike someone. Many people therefore look for ways to diminish and remove them. A good option is to answer some common questions about this type of scar, learn what makes them unique, and review some of the treatment and removal options.

What is the Definition of a Keloid?

What differentiates a keloid from other types of scars is it expands beyond the site of the original wound. This scar grows to an irregular shape and it enlarges progressively, raising above the skin. They have a pinkish to purplish dome shaped appearance that is shiny and smooth. Unlike other scars, keloids do not subside over time. This is why many choose to remove them.

What Causes a Keloid?

Although doctors are not sure of the exact reason why keloids form, they believe it involves cellular signals that control growth. A keloid biologically is a fibrotic tumor consisting of atypical fibroblasts that produce excessively the elements of proteoglycans, elastin, and above all else collagen. So far the laboratory studies to determine what it is that causes the atypical fibroblast outgrowth and the reason for its overproduction of these compenents have failed to pinpoint exactly why it all takes place.

Is It Possible to Prevent Keloids?

Naturally you should be happy to read that the best prevention route to avoid contracting keloid scars is...to not get one in the first place. One should be aware however that individuals with high pigmentation or whose family lineage includes members who've contracted the scar are more prone to their development. What is recommneded if you share one or more of these traits is to avoid any unnecessary cosmetic surgeries or ear piercings. Any cut whatsoever is a potential starting point for a keloid scar.

What Are the Keloid Scar Removal Options?

The effort at keloid scar treatment involves the following techniques:

- Cortisone Injections: These injections of cortisone are administered one time a month for as many months as it takes to achieve the desired result. While these injections are known to flatten out the scar, they initiate blood vessel formations which cause them to have a more pronounced redness.

- The Surgery Route: The irony with this option is that while it can completely eliminate the raised scar, it produces a fresh wound afterwards that has all the traits of forming another keloid scar.

- Laser Therapy Options: To lessen the redness of the scar while also diminishing its size, laser therapy has proven an effective treatment plan to successfully achieve these objectives. The negative to laser therapy is its cost. It is expensive, requires multiple trips to the doctor's office, and more times than not is not covered by one's health insurance.

- How About Cryotherapy: This treatment option utilizes liquid nitrogen to remove completely the keloid scar by freezing it. When frozen the doctor can successfully remove it. The unfortunate side effect to cryotherapy is that afterwards what remains is a dark section on your skin where the keloid scar was located.

How About Treating Keloids Using Natural Treatments?

The trick to making organic treatments effective for keloid scars is to find products that use ingredients conducive to promote skin regeneration. One ingredient should be a must for any treatment product used to diminish the appearance and ultimately remove keloid scars. The ingredient Helix Aspersa Muller has the ability for regulation of the natural processes of the healing of skin and the formation of scars. What it does for all natural scar removal creams is change the cell communications to restore healthy skin structures. The aftermath is fresh, healthy looking skin.

source: ezinearticles.com

Types of Scars From Burns

An Overview

When a person suffers a burn, there are three types of scars which can emerge: Keloid, Hypertrophic, and Contractures. Keloid scars result from an overgrowth of scar tissue. The scars are generally red or pink in coloring but turn brown with time. Hypertrophic scars are raise, red, and thick. They differ from Keloid scars as they do not extend beyond the site of injury. Contracture scars emerge from a tightening of skin. These scars can affect the underlying tendons and muscles limiting mobility as well as causing nerve damage.

Keloid Scars

A Keloid scar involves a growth of excessive scar tissue beyond the site of the burn injury. It is caused when the body continues to produce collagen even after the wound has healed. These scars are very thick, ridged, nodular and itchy during formation. If the scar becomes too extensive it may limit mobility. Keloid scars are sensitive to friction such as clothing rubbing against them. People with darker skin and a youthful age are most likely to develop Keloids.

They can be minimized through cyrotherapy (freezing), cortisone injections, external pressure, steroid injections, radiation, or surgical removal. Generally, injections and external pressure are attempted first and if unsuccessful, outpatient surgery is performed under a local anesthesia. Doctors may recommend pressure garments to be worn to prevent Keloids from re-occurring. Treatments may be needed every few years as Keloids commonly reappear.

Hypertrophic Scars

Hypertrophic scars are limited to the site of injury and will improve over time. With the assistance of steroids, the healing process can be expedited.

Contractures

A contracture scar occurs when the skin tightens permanently. This can limit mobility as well as cause nerve damage. The scar develops when normal elastic tissues are replaced by inelastic fibrous tissue. This new tissue is resistant to stretching and inhibits normal movement.

Physical therapy combined with pressure and exercise can be helpful in aiding these scars. If therapeutic treatment does not succeed, surgery may be needed. A skin graft of flap procedure may be performed by a doctor. In addition, there are new techniques such as Z-plasty or tissue expansion which may be recommended.

Treatment of burn injuries is very expensive. If your injury is the result of someone else's negligence, you have the right to damages. Contact the burn injury lawyers of Williams & Kherker by dialing 1-866-950-9000 for a free consultation.

source: ezinearticles.com