How to Reduce a Scar

They say every scar has a story, but not everyone wants to wear their stories on their skin. Whether your troublesome scar is from acne, surgery, or an injury, chances are that you have options to reduce its appearance. At Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, we specialize in helping patients of all ages and skin types achieve the look they want, and scar reduction is often a part of the process. Depending on your scar, your skin, and your other priorities, our licensed medical aestheticians can offer a variety of options.

Laser Treatments for Scars

One of the most effective ways to reduce scarring is with laser treatments. At Laser Lights, we offer two different options: fractionated CO2 laser skin resurfacing and micro laser peels. Both of these treatments use a minimally invasive technique called fractional laser resurfacing, sending tiny columns of laser light into the skin. These lasers break up old scar tissue and initiate your body’s healing process, which helps to make the scar smoother and more consistent with your natural skin. The primary difference between fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing and a micro laser peel is the intensity – a micro laser peel generates milder results but it also requires less healing time. In addition to scar reduction, both of these procedures can reduce fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, age spots, and other cosmetic issues.

Microneedling (With or Without Natural Growth Factors)

We explained that laser treatments use columns of laser light to break up scar tissue and stimulate new collagen production, and microneedling does the same, but it uses manual micro-needles instead of laser columns. For patients who want to amplify their results, we can also use their own natural growth factors, a component of their blood that we can apply during a microneedling treatment to further enhance collagen growth.

Chemical Peels

Another popular option for scar reduction is a chemical peel (or, in most cases, a series of peels). During a peel, our aestheticians will apply an acidic solution to the skin and give it a few minutes to penetrate before cleansing it away. Over the coming days, the skin responds by shedding damaged surface skin to reveal brighter, more youthful skin below with less scar tissue.

Fire and Ice Facial

The Fire and Ice Facial by iS Clinical® is more similar to a chemical peel than it is to a typical facial you would get at a spa. First, we apply a resurfacing masque to penetrate the damaged surface skin and lead the body’s natural healing process to shed it. Next, we apply a rejuvenating masque to hydrate the refreshed skin. Like a chemical peel, the Fire and Ice Facial can be performed in a series to reduce scar tissue and minimize the appearance of a scar.

SilkPeel® Dermalinfusion®

SilkPeel® is a remarkably gentle and relaxing treatment, but it can certainly be a successful choice for mild scarring such as light acne scarring. Similar to microdermabrasion, SilkPeel® abrades away the top layer of damaged skin (and scar tissue) while also clearing away pore-clogging debris and infusing the skin with hydrating and rejuvenating serums. A series of SilkPeel® treatments can help reduce the appearance of minor scars while giving your skin a more nourished feel.

No two scars are the same, so no two scar reduction plans should be the same either. It’s all about customization and having a provider with the experience and knowledge to give you the exact treatment plan you need. To find out what that is, schedule a free consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. For more skin care tips as well as our monthly special offers, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google+.