Tag Archive for 'scar treatment'

Best Scar Treatment For Dark Scars & Brown Spots

Published on July 31, 2010 in Cosmetic Surgery. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

With so many scar treatment options to pick from it’s impossible to know which scar treatments work and which ones are safe. When it comes to dark scars and hyperpigmented skin blemishes (like brown spots and dark acne scars), a handful of options are available:

1) Hydroquinone

2) Kojic acid

3) Vitamin C

4) Natural scar treatments like Licorice extract

Hydroquinone can be very effective in helping to fade dark scars and hyperpigmented skin blemishes. However, it is no longer sold in some countries because of concerns that long-term use may be dangerous. Hydroquinone can lead to a condition called Ochronosis, even at its over-the-counter strength of 2%. Ochronosis is permanent hyperpigmentation 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 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 also decrease with prolonged use and with sun exposure. Hydroquinone does not improve any other aspect of the scar other than the dark pigment.

Like hydroquinone, kojic acid is effective in fading 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, kojic acid does not improve any other aspect of scar healing other than the dark pigment.

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), along with other vitamin C derivatives, decreases melanin production (by inhibiting tyrosinase) and therefore lightens skin hyperpigmentation. Vitamin also improves other aspects of scar healing through its action on collagen. Scar healing is typically associated with breakdown of the skin’s normal collagen and replacement with unorganized, haphazard collagen fibers. Vitamin C has been shown to normalize new collagen production. Unfortunately, many vitamin C skin care products (including scar treatments) become ineffective over time. L-ascorbic acid on its own is very unstable and oxidizes on repeat exposure to air and moisture and turns dark yellow or brown. Many products containing vitamin C are colored dark yellow or brown to begin with to disguise this vitamin C degradation. Products containing STABLE vitamin C are usually white.

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 with sun exposure and skin injury. Interestingly, licorice boosts the scar lightening effects of vitamin C so the two should be combined for best results. As a bonus, licorice also has anti-acne effects (both prevention and treatment).

What is the most effective scar therapy to help fade dark scars? InviCible Scars is an advanced scar treatment that contains scientifically-proven ingredients and is free of skin irritants: NO preservatives, alcohol, mineral oil, petroleum or fragrances. It is not tested on animals. Get your Trial Offer of InviCible Scars at www.inviciblescars.com

categories: scar treatment,dark scars,scar therapy,brown spots,hyperpigmentation,acne,scars,dermatology,plastic surgery,cosmetic surgery,skin care,skin,beauty,women

Treatment Procedures For Acne Scars

Published on July 14, 2010 in Liposuction. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

Scars caused by pimples have a huge impact on one’s psychological and emotional state. One inevitable – and awkward – experience that most of us deal with in our youthful days is agonizing over a bad crop of zits. We had to co-exist with the embarrassing red pustules and the latent scarring.

Bacteria are noted as the fundamental cause of pimples. Bacteria thrive on hair follicles that are plugged with dirt and sebum.

After the pustules are gone, scars often remain as a reminder of those annoying pimples. Some acne scars grow lighter with time. Yet, some acne scars will not disappear, and we are left with the feeling that we are somehow imperfect.

The 4 most common varieties of pocking left over from pimples are the following. Ice pick acne scars are those identifiable by the visible pricks formed on the skin. Another kind is called rolling scar; a broad, shallow depth is what identifies this scar type. Boxcar-type scarrings are commonly found on the temples or the cheeks; they have angular and well-defined edges, similar to scars caused by varicella. Keloidal and hypertrophic acne scars are raised tissues on the surface of the skin.

Research studies revealed that facial scars induced by acne can greatly affect an indvidual’s sense of self-worth, and that person may be more prone to depression.

Treatment methods for scars induced by acne are being developed everyday. Inquire from your doctor about the advantages of some of the more popular means of scar treatment, such as laser therapy, creams and injectables, dermabrasion, and other recent technological advancements. There’s still hope!

Find out more about hair transplant and tattoo removal and how it can enhance your life. Unique version for reprint here: Treatment Procedures For Acne Scars.

Scar Healing Treatments To Help Get Rid Of Scars

Published on July 9, 2010 in Cosmetic Surgery. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

With so many scar products to choose from, who has the time to do the research and work out which of the amazing claims are true and which are bogus? There are thousands of studies that have looked at scar healing and what influences the way the body heals. This article summarizes the treatments that have been shown to safely get rid of scars.

Silicone Sheeting or Silicone Gel: Silicone improves the appearance and texture of both new and old scars. Even though no-one truly knows how silicone works on scars, its effectiveness as a scar treatment has been proved by many scientific studies and is beyond doubt.

Silicone sheeting has long-been the gold standard in terms of scar therapy. The problem is they are not user-friendly. They have to be worn for the majority of the day and get in the way of clothing. Using make-up or sun block if the scar is on the face is impossible. Dimethicone silicone gel has been shown to be just as effective as sheeting but is much easier to use. Rub it in and you’re done. Make-up and sun block can be applied over it easily.

Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid): Most people think vitamin E is the most important vitamin for scar healing. Vitamin E is a great anti-oxidant and protects the skin from sun damage but does not improve the way scars heal at all. Vitamin E also causes contact dermatitis in 33% of people who use it on their skin. In reality it’s vitamin C that is the most important vitamin for skin health and optimal scar healing. Vitamin C encourages the production of normal collagen fibers instead of the usual unorganized, haphazard collagen associated with uncontrolled scarring.

Vitamin C also decreases inflammation and is used effectively to safely lighten dark scars. Vitamin C can cause stinging and even some mild flaking or redness until the skin “gets used to” the ascorbic acid (particularly with concentrations of 10-20%), but this is not an allergy.

Many skin care products that contain vitamin C in the ascorbic acid form are colored brown. This is to disguise the fact that the ascorbic acid has oxidized and become ineffective (oxidized ascorbic acid is brown too). For this reason, vitamin C skin care products that are brown to begin with should be avoided.

Natural Plant Extracts: Just because something is “natural” does not mean that it cannot cause harm. Having said that, many skin care products contain natural plant extracts as ingredients, mainly because of their anti-inflammatory effects. Safe examples of natural scar treatments include Aloe Vera, Licorice extract, Safflower seed oil and Sunflower seed oil.

Aloe speeds up wound healing and encourages growth of new, healthy skin. Aloe is also a potent anti-inflammatory and has been used to treat wounds for centuries.

Licorice is an anti-inflammatory, improves wound healing and lightens dark pigmentation like dark scars, age spots, brown spots and melasma. It is also a very effective antimicrobial agent, particularly against the most common organism leading to acne. That’s right, acne is due to an infection which is why some people are prescribed antibiotics for break-outs. Licorice is used as part of acne regimens, both prevention and treatment because of this antimicrobial ability.

Safflower and sunflower seed oils are very rich in linoleic and oleic acids. These essential fatty acids (EFAs) regenerate the skin’s lipid biolayer which is crucial for maintaining moisture, and improve wound healing by regulating prostaglandin production. EFAs help get rid of scars by improving scar elasticity and lightening dark pigment (hyper-pigmentation).

Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon with a special interest in effective scar healing treatments that help get rid of scars safely. He is also Chief Science Officer for InviCible Scars Advanced Scar Therapy, a hypoallergenic, effective scar treatment free of skin irritants. Get the Trial Offer of InviCible Scars at www.inviciblescars.com

Scar Therapy: Is Yours Safe?

Published on June 5, 2010 in Cosmetic Surgery. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Many scar therapy products contain some form of silicone along with vitamin E. Hydroquinone and kojic acid are sometimes added to help lighten dark scars. Preservatives and fragrances help keep these creams “bacteria free” and smelling a little more appealing. But are all these chemicals safe?

VITAMIN E – Included in many topical skin care products because of its strong antioxidant properties. Unfortunately, studies also show that vitamin E does not improve scar healing in any way. Canadian pediatricians and American dermatologists actually advise avoiding using vitamin E as a scar therapy as it causes a contact allergy (contact dermatitis) in 1 in 3 users.

D4 & D5 SILICONES – These types of silicones are found in many cosmetic hair and skin care products including scar treatments. Recent studies suggest that up to 200 forms of silicone, including D4 and D5, may be unsafe. The compounds were recently placed on the Canadian government’s toxic chemicals list and many European nations will also register D4 and D5 as potentially harmful.

The Canadian environmental group, Environmental Defence, claims D4 and D5 may cause cancer and that D4 can also cause infertility and liver damage. Aaron Freeman, Environmental Defence’s policy director, welcomed the Canadian government’s stance but also urged that they “go the distance by getting these chemicals off the market.”

In contrast to these silicones, dimethicone silicone has been certified as safe.

HYDROQUINONE – probably the most frequently recommended lightening agent because it is generally very effective. It comes in different strengths, typically 2% and 4%. One uncommon but significant potential complication from using hydroquinone is a condition known as Ochronosis. This consists of delayed wound healing, loss of skin elasticity, and ironically, permanent hyper-pigmentation.

KOJIC ACID – also helps lighten the dark pigment seen in dark scars and other skin lesions like melasma and brown spots. While it is not as effective as hydroquinone, the popularity of kojic acid has increased over the years as people have become more fearful of hydroquinone’s potential side effects. Even though kojic acid is more “natural” (it is produced by several different types of fungi), repeat use can cause skin sensitization which increases the risk of contact dermatitis. Once again, there is no improvement in scar healing except for lightening of hyper-pigmentation.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and licorice are safer alternatives to hydroquinone and kojic acid. Vitamin C also improves healing by encouraging normal collagen production while licorice extract can prevent acne. Licorice also boosts the pigment-lightening effects of vitamin C. The two ingredients should therefore be used together whenever possible.

PRESERVATIVES & FRAGRANCES – Most skin car products contain water. This water can encourage growth of bacteria. Preservatives prevent bacterial growth and are therefore used in most skin care products including scar therapies. Unfortunately, a small number of skin-irritating preservatives dominate the market: parabens, methylparabens, and formaldehyde. Together with fragrances, these chemicals are the main reasons for contact eczema caused by skin care products.

Need to fade ugly scars? Plastic surgeons recommend InviCible Scars, a hypo-allergenic, effective scar therapy full of scientifically-proven ingredients and 100% free of skin irritants. Get the Trial Offer of InviCible Scars Advanced Scar Treatment now!