The Best Scar Removal Treatment

Scar removal up until now has usually involved expensive and risky procedures and surgeries that many people aren't willing to endure. For those who opt for a more natural option were forced to pay for expensive scar creams that rarely delivered the results they claim. There hasn't really been many good options when it comes to scar treatment until lately. Fortunately, with the advancement of medical research, there are now many natural scar removal products and tricks that can reduce scarring without the high prices and risks associated with invasive procedures and expensive scar creams.

Here are a few natural scar removal products and tricks you can use:
Lemon Juice - If you have a darkened scar, lemon juice might be a good product for you. Its a natural bleaching agent and also contains high amounts of citric acid which can help exfoliate the top layers of the scar. There are also other over the counter products which can more effectively lighten a scar as well.

Pure Aloe Vera - Aloe direct from an Aloe Vera plant is very good for the skin and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This makes it a good option for early scar treatment. Avoid Aloe Vera lotions and gels as the processing they go through usually destroys any healing properties it may have had. Sunblock - Always cover a scar with sunscreen for at least 6 months after the skin damage. Scar tissue is very sensitive to sunlight and will burn easily. This will make the scar red and much more noticeable. Once a scar becomes discolored, it is difficult to bring it back to its natural color.

There are many other effective scar removal products and techniques that can deliver excellent results for many people. They are not the most common or easily found methods, but they do exist. Always do your research before applying a topical product to the skin on a daily basis. There are many common products, like Vitamin E, that cause dermatitis and rashes in many people, so use caution. Natural scar removal is possible with the right information, so don't give up.

Best Scar Treatment for Dark Scars

Hydroquinone can be very effective in helping to lighten dark scars. However, it is no longer sold in some countries because of its long-term use dangers. Though rare, hydroquinone can lead to a condition called ochronosis, even at its over-the-counter strength of 2%. Ochronosis is permanent hyper-pigmentation with sooty darkening of the skin. Ochronosis may also cause loss of skin elasticity and impaired wound healing. Other side effects of hydroquinone include contact dermatitis (rash, redness, itching and flaking) and nail discoloration. Some researchers have questioned whether hydroquinone and related compounds may even cause cancer. As a result of these fears, hydroquinone is only available by prescription in Europe and it is highly regulated in Asia. The skin-lightening effects of hydroquinone decrease with prolonged use and with sun exposure. Hydroquinone does not improve any other aspect of the scar other than the dark pigment.

Kojic acid - like hydroquinone, kojic acid is effective in lightening dark scars, brown spots and even melasma. Unfotunately, some studies suggest that skin exposed to kojic acid on a regular basis becomes more sensitive. Skin sensitization is bad because it can lead to allergic contact dermatitis. Like hydroquinone, koijic acid does not improve any other aspect of the scar other than the dark pigment.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a very effective and safe pigment lightening agent when used in concentrations of 10% (or more). It also encourages production of normal, healthy collagen so it is also a very good scar treatment in general. The problem with vitamin c is stability. Most forms of vitamin C used in skin care products are unstable and turn brown after the container is opened. This is a sign that the vitamin C has become oxidized and therefore no longer works. Products that are brown to begin with should best be avoided as many manufacturers color the cream brown so that users cannot tell when the cream becomes oxidized. Choose a product which specifically address this vitamin C stability issue (usually by combining ascorbic acid with a second form of vitamin C) and is not brown to begin with).

Licorice extract - like vitamin C, licorice also makes an excellent scar treatment: it has strong anti-inflammatory properties and accelerates skin renewal. Both vitamin C and licorice inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme that causes pigmentation in response to sun exposure and skin injury. Interestingly, licorice boosts the scar lightening effects of vitamin C so the 2 should be combined for best results. As a bonus, licorice also has anti-acne effects (both prevention and treatment).

Regardless of the treatment you choose, be patient. It takes time to get rid of dark scars. Improvement does not happen overnight. Also keep applying sun block (over the scar treatment) as prolonged sun exposure will only make dark scars even darker.

Groundbreaking skin treatment

The Dermatology Center of St. Luke’s Medical Center has acquired the country’s first Sciton Profractional Laser, a new groundbreaking technology that provides virtually painless treatment of scars and aging facial skin.A population option for facial skin enhancement, the procedure utilizes ablative lasers. When directed to the skin, the energy heats the water within the surface layers of the skin causing both the water and the tissue to vaporize.

Every time the laser passes the skin, portions of the outermost layers are removed with utmost precision and control. The skin then heals over a period of time, usually three to four weeks, as new layers of collagen are produced. An improved skin literally resurfaces without traces of sun damage or acne scars. Unlike conventional ablative lasers where effective results are associated with prolonged downtime, the profractional technology offers a cost-effective solution for treating wrinkles, scar and epidermal dyspigmentation, resulting in healthier skin in a much shorter time.

Non-ablative laser treatments have shorter healing time but require several treatments in monthly intervals. These generally have more subtle improvements over time.Dr. Lonabel Encarnacion, Head of the Dermatology Center, explained that profractional treatments combine the benefits of the faster recovery of non-ablative technology. She added that the profractional laser targets a specific area, leaving surrounding skin intact. Skin problems are corrected, new collagen is produced – all within a shorter recovery period.“Some swelling and redness are expected from profractional treatments but this generally subsides within a day or two,” she said. “Optimal improvement is usually visible in about two to three months.

This time frame and treatment structure allows for complete healing and replacement of damaged tissue with new collagen, elastin and viable healthy skin cell growth.”The Dermatology Center at St. Luke’s Medical Center provides world-class medical and surgical outpatient dermatologic care. Patients are seen for common conditions such as acne, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, hair loss, warts, actinic keratoses, and common skin infections, as well as patients with more complex disorders, including vitiligo, genetic diseases that affect the skin, dermatological manifestations of systemic illnesses, and skin cancer. In addition to the general dermatology outpatient service, the Center has several units devoted to specialized care in various subspecialties, including the Laser Unit, which provides Vascular Laser (Pulsed Dye Laser), Hair Removal (Alexandrite Laser), Pigment Laser treatments.