SCARS

Scars, even small ones, can make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. For some people, they can produce visible lumps, pain, or itching. Concealing and camouflage make-up can help but you may also wish to have some treatment to lessen the impact of the scar.

 

Problematic scars are challenging to treat, and no treatment has been shown to be 100% effective. Mr Lewis provides a range of scar treatment options to help minimise and reduce the appearance of scars.

 

At your consultation, your suitability will be assessed. All the possible treatment of scars, both non-surgical and surgical, will be discussed with you, and you will be able to ask any questions you may have.

 

 

Steroid Injection

 

This is a well-established technique for treating scars. A raised scar such as a hypertrophic or keloid scar can be treated using small injections containing corticosteroids. These are placed in the scar to reduce both the thickness and the associated itch. You may require multiple injections over several months to achieve the desired result. Most scars will require about six injection treatments, spaced about six weeks apart.

 

Pulsed dye laser scar treatment

 

Some problematic scars are intensely red and itchy. Pulsed dye laser treatment involves the use of a specific laser light that is absorbed by the red blood vessels in your scar that make it red and itchy. The laser heats the blood vessels and shrinks them so that they cannot refill with blood, reducing the redness in your scar, improving itch and removing the colour.  The treatment will sting a little and your scar will appear darker or bruised after, which is normal. This will fade like a normal bruise and may take up to 2 weeks.

A course of treatment is usually required to help your symptoms. It is not always possible to predict how many treatments will be required but a course is usually between three and six laser sessions, though some patients may need more.

 

Fractional laser scar treatment

 

Sometimes, scars on the skin can become tight, lumpy, firm and can even affect movement if close to a joint. Fractional laser treatment creates microscopic holes in your scar, which help them to mature, stimulate collagen production and can make feel scars softer and flatter. Pigment changes in your scar can also be treated as the top layers of skin peel away.

An anaesthetic cream will be applied to your scars for one hour before the laser session as it can be uncomfortable without. There will be pinhole scabs and flaking of the skin, which usually heals within one week. Redness of the skin may persist for 6 weeks following treatment.

It is not always possible to predict exactly how many treatments will be required but a course is usually between three and six laser sessions, though some patients may require more. The interval between treatments is six to eight weeks.

 

Surgery

 

Surgery is sometimes required for patients with scars on the body due to trauma, burns or skin grafts and can be used to change the line of scars and to help reduce their size if large. No surgery can make scars completely disappear but if the original wound has healed forming an obvious scar, it is sometimes possible to perform surgery to reopen the wound and then reclose it in a more favourable way. Healing takes several weeks then several months of aftercare are required before the final effect can be seen.