“There may be scarring…” four of the most groan-inducing words you can hear from your physician. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already heard these words delivered nonchalantly by a doctor peering closely at your skin. From their point of view, the scar is merely a side effect of a natural, restorative process. But for you, it means so much more. To learn more about why scars form and how you can get scar revision treatment, contact Bakersfield Medspa today!
In truth, the scarring process is a fabulous bit of human biology that has little respect for our aesthetic view of our bodies. According to Sarthak Sinha from the University of Calgary, scars are caused when a wound forces our bodies to increase the deposit of collagen at the wound site. The increased density of collagen connects the damaged tissue but also disrupts the cells’ ability to function normally. This disruption prevents scars from being able to produce sweat, grow hair, or maintain consistent color. The disruption is more severe in keloid scars.
Keloid Scars
Keloid scars do not just rise out of the skin, they rise and spread from the origin site. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, some populations including people of Asian and African descent are more prone to keloid scars, a factor that should be taken into account before intentional scarrings, such as piercings or tattoos. However, there is a range of dermatological treatments available to reduce their overall size and appearance. More importantly, careful attention to the needs of our skin can entirely prevent instances of scarring.
Can You Prevent Scarring?
Our skin is our largest and one of our most important organs. Daily care from a young age is important to our overall health. It maintains the quality of the barrier between our internal organs and the outside world. Although skincare is a complex, individualized program that changes over time, the foundations of healthy skin can be broken down into two major categories: hydration and cleaning.
Hydration
Hydration is arguably the most important factor in skincare. High water content allows your skin to maintain a strong, flexible barrier between you and your environment. It also prevents cracks. Breaks in the skin may introduce dangerous microbes and lead to further water-loss. Healthy, moisturized skin is also better at absorbing vitamin D. This aids in major bodily processes including bone development and maintenance.
Cleanliness
Keeping your skin clear is also important as it relates to maintaining the integrity of the barrier created by your skin. Acne may seem harmless, but it can lead to infection and, even worse, scarring. Acne scars function similarly to other scars found on your body, interrupting the natural processes that help the body to regulate body temperature and absorb vitamin D. Many people escape troublesome acne by their late twenties. However, the scars will continue to impede the healthy function of our skin.
Dr. Suzan Obagi’s work on skin aging makes the necessity of proper skincare all the more apparent. As stated in Scientific American, after the age of twenty, our skin produces 1% less collagen every year, reducing the thick, plumpness of young skin and making it increasingly fragile to damage. Environmental factors also play their part, and preventing them is the best way to slow the aging process. Scars, which further impede the function of already less responsive skin, can have an exacerbating effect as our skin ages. Fortunately, there are treatments that can reduce their overall appearance.
Scar Revision Treatment
By using the same innovative laser technology approved by the American Academy of Dermatology Bakersfield Medspa offers realistic options for scar revision treatment. These laser treatments slowly remove layers of damaged skin, allowing for fresh re-growth in a carefully handled recovery stage. Your personalized treatment schedule will be designed to reduce the appearance of scarring by normalizing both texture and color over multiple treatments.
In addition, scar removal laser treatment slowly removes layers of damaged skin, breaking down the thickened collagen deposits and allowing for re-growth to occur in line with the normal layers of skin. This does not necessarily rid your skin of the scar, but reduces its overall appearance and increases the functional area around the original wound site.
