Treatments For ScarringThere is not always anything that can be done about scarring
It depends on type and severity of the problem.However, for some types of scars, there are things that can be done including laser treatments, topical gels and even injectable fillers.Pixel Laser Peel and Skin resurfacing
The Pixel laser is a new FDA approved laser device which is designed to improve the quality and the texture of the skin while it stimulates collagen regeneration. It is believed by doctors to be a major break through in treating acne and trauma scars.
Laser skin resurfacing using an ablative laser is a procedure commonly used to restore a youthful appearance to wrinkled, prematurely aged, scarred or sun damaged skin. Worldwide trials have revealed the Harmony Pixel laser to be an extremely safe and effective method of scar and wrinkle reduction in both men and women. More importantly it can do this without burning or cutting the skin and without the major side effects and pain associated with other treatments. While results can be excellent, laser resurfacing can be painful and have extended down time.
In the past people have sometimes been housebound and unable to return to work for extended periods of time. The Harmony Pixel is a fractional ablative laser that represents the best of both worlds for skin resurfacing. It combines the proven effectiveness of an ablative approach with the patient comfort level and convenience of a non-ablative approach. It creates an ablative and thermal effect at the pixel area- a micro injury- without disturbing the surrounding tissue. Those micro injured areas start the process of healing as collagen remodels and the skin texture improves.
In our experience patients prefer multiple visits, with minimal downtime or risk over a single treatment that involves remaining at home for an extended period of time. No anaesthetic is required for this procedure. Most commonly patients may feel some slight warmth with the pulse of the laser, experiencing minimal discomfort, and feeling a tingling sensation as the light enters the skin. Sessions can last anything from 10 minutes up to 1 hour depending on the size of the treatment areas. A gel is then applied to the skin to retain moisture. Patients then experience a sun burn like sensation for the first 24-48 hours.
This is generally neutralised with a gentle moisturising gel such as Vaseline. The skin will be red and can feel tight for approx 48 hours and then it will have a pinkish tone for 5-7 days. This is a normal sign that skin is healing deeply. Some people, especially those with sensitive skin, may get a histamine response: these are small bumps that will settle down on their own within a very short time. Swelling is mild and generally resolves in 2-3 days. At the time of print no other side effects have been noted although of course this cannot be guaranteed. The treated skin will look better after approximately 10-14 days following the first treatment and then results steadily improve over the months with repeated sessions. New epidermal skin develops immediately, within 24hours. This process of skin repair involves various stages.
The skin will have a bronzed appearance that lasts anywhere from 3-14 days depending on the treatment level. Your skin will naturally and vigorously exfoliate as the reorganised epidermal skin replaces dead tissue. Flaking is similar to that of minor sunburn, but without the associated pain. Use of a mild, un-perfumed moisturiser will mask the appearance of flaking. You will be required to use sunscreen (>SPF 30) to protect your skin from sun exposure during the healing phase and for approximately 3 months post treatment. Treatment with the Pixel laser is a gradual process that happens over several treatments, depending on the severity of the scarring. A 3-4 week period between treatments is usually observed and subsequent treatments may well improve the results considerably, although of course nothing can be guaranteed. Before any treatment a full medical assessment will be carried out, the information gathered here will be used to work out a treatment regime to suit your individual needs.
N-Lite Laser
The N-Lite laser works work on sunken or depressed scars. The scar tissue itself is not affected but the laser causes the body's own repair and regeneration mechanism to begin a healing process, laying down new collagen in the treated area. The surface is slowly raised, gradually reducing the visibility of the scar. The N-Lite works using very low powers, beneath the skin surface. In addition to the low powers, because the skin surface is not breached in any way there is an absolute minimum of unwanted side effects. The N-Lite is almost completely complication free. Some people, especially those with very sensitive skin, may get a histamine response. If your skin does respond in this way, small bumps may appear; they may be slightly red and they may itch but will settle down on their own within a few hours.
Some people find the skin surface flushes slightly after treatment. At the very worst, small red spots called purpura can appear but these usually settle down within a few days. ecause collagen is laid down slowly, there is no immediate effect. While this may seem like a disappointment, the gradual nature of the N-Lite response is actually a blessing. Instead of having an obvious-to-everyone cosmetic change, your skin condition will slowly improve over time. Before any treatment can be given, a full medical assessment will be carried out. The information gathered here, in combination with monitored treatment results, will be used to work out a treatment regime tailored to suit your individual needs. We may also recommend other treatments prior to N-Lite laser.
DermarollerTM
Genuine Dermaroller medical devices are designed to be used by trained medical practitioners in a procedure that creates approximately 300 micro medical needle channels per cm2 into the dermis of the skin. This controlled physical stimulation of the dermis initiates a natural skin regeneration and repair process which can help to smooth atrophic scarring such as is caused by acne and chicken pox. To achieve the desired results it is often necessary to carry out at least 3 procedures, approximately 6 weeks apart.
Before Dermaroller treatment a topical anaesthetic is applied to help numb the area to be treated. The medically engineered precision surgical needles are incredibly sharp and minimal pressure is required with virtually no unnecessary peripheral damage to the skin. This minimises “social down time”. Normally after a procedure the skin looks like moderate sun burn that significantly reduces within 12 to 24 hours.
Genuine Dermaroller medical devices are CE marked single use sterile medical devices and are the only ones in the world that comply with the European Medical Device Directive.
Unfortunately, raised or keloid scars cannot be improved and are not suitable for treatment.
