If you have a wound on your skin, you may have noticed that as the wound heals, a scar begins to form in its place. Facial scars vary in shape, size, and severity, and can be caused by acne, surgery, burns, or other injuries. And since the skin on your face is almost always exposed to environmental elements, the scars on your facial skin may take a long time to heal. This also means that it can be difficult to keep scar-reducing treatments on your face and cover the facial scars to accelerate healing.
If you need to reduce the appearance of scars on your face, here are some important tips to keep in mind.
Reduce the Appearance of Facial Scars
● Get a Dermabrasion Treatment
Dermabrasion is among the most effective treatments for giving you a healthy and even skin tone. This procedure gets rid of facial scars if you are receiving the treatments regularly. A dermatologist can perform dermabrasion and there are dermabrasion products at skincare stores and supermarkets as well. It is important to check the condition of your skin after dermabrasion. If you notice redness, inflammation, darkening of the scar, or infection, it is best to discontinue use and come up with a customized skincare regimen with your dermatologist.
● Laser Resurfacing
The goal of a laser resurfacing treatment is the same as dermabrasions and chemical peels: to get rid of the top layer of skin. Laser beams are used to remove the skin which can accelerate skin cell turnover and help to speed up the healing process. You can choose from erbium or carbon dioxide resurfacing. The safest and gentlest method is erbium, but carbon dioxide is more effective for treating facial scars. After you receive this treatment, you should keep your face covered until it has completely healed.
● Home Remedies to Get Rid of Facial Scars
You can treat your facial scars at home using affordable ingredients that you probably already have in your medicine cabinet or pantry. Skin bleaching kits are available at many drugstores; use them according to the directions. You can also apply honey to your skin to reduce redness and keep your skin from becoming infected. Petroleum jelly is also beneficial for protecting the skin and keeping the scar from worsening. Another great investment to make is buying advanced silicone scar gel to use at home too.
● Chemical Peels
These peels are a combination of mild acids that are applied directly on the skin to exfoliate the top layer of skin and expose a new, fresh layer. If you’re trying to get rid of scars, a deep peel that contains phenol is likely the best solution. However, you can try superficial peels for discoloration and medium peels which are suitable for skin health maintenance and slowing the aging process.
It is important to note that deep chemical peels can be very intense and your skin could take up to three weeks to completely heal. You’ll bandage your face and change the dressings 2-3 times a day. If you opt for a deep peel, you’ll also have to take antiviral medicines to keep yourself from getting sick and strengthen your immune system. Some dermatologists may also prescribe a silicone gel for scars that can be applied daily to soothe and heal the skin.
● Plastic Surgery
If you’ve tried several treatments to get rid of facial scars and nothing has worked, you may want to consider plastic surgery. A plastic surgeon can remove scar tissue or alter the position and look of the tissue using a scalpel. If you choose to have surgery, make sure your surgeon is board-certified and has experience with the type of surgery you need. Schedule a detailed consultation so you can ask your doctor any questions you may have. A consultation can also ease your fears about surgery and let you know exactly what to expect when it comes to healing/downtime.
When you consistently treat your skin wounds you can keep additional scars from forming on your face while treating any blemishes that you want to get rid of. You can keep the wound from drying out by treating it with petroleum jelly and antibiotic creams can help to keep the scar site from developing an infection. It’s also important to wear sunscreen any time you go outdoors, no matter the weather. Sunscreen keeps new scars from forming and prevents premature aging. Your sunscreen should be at least SPF30 to provide the most protection for your skin.
