Archive for ◊ June, 2008 ◊

Author: admin
Sunday, June 29th, 2008
Chris Chew asked:


Most people would probably have scars which they want to remove for aesthetic or other reasons. ****** scars could be the in thing now if you have watched the Pirates of the Caribbean. Some even consider it a fashion statement. However, most people would probably like their ****** scars to be removed.

There are many methods being used to remove scars and one of the most convenient methods would to remove scars by cosmetic laser surgery. However, we must first understand what scars are.

A scar is the body’s natural way of healing itself by replacing lost or damaged skin. Scars may occur for many reasons such as from surgery, injuries, cuts, infections or inflammation of body tissues. Scars can come with different appearances and forms like just being flat, lumpy, sunken, colored, itchy or even being painful. The look of a scar will depend on factors such as skin type, location on the body, the direction and type of the injury, age of the person and his/her nutrition.

Scars usually fade with the passing of time and many scars do not disappear completely. Cosmetics and make up can help to cover light unsightly scars. Some scars can be minimized or lightened by certain dermatological treatments.

Some of the techniques that help to remove or improve the scars are dermabrasion, chemical peels, collagen injections, cryosurgery, skin grafts, surgical scar revision, laser resurfacing, and autologous fat transfer just to name a few of the many methods.

The laser scar removal technique can reduce the appearance of keloid scars, hypertrophic scars, and atrophic scars. Unfortunately, people with darker skin may not be able to use laser scar removal. People who suffer from skin disorders such as psoriasis, cystic acne, and dermatitis may also not be able to undergo laser scar removal method. People who are on medication such as isotretinoin for acne must stop using the medication for at least half a year before they are able to undergo the laser treatment.

During laser scar removal, the laser is moved along the scar. This vaporizes or removes a layer of skin and exposes a more natural-looking skin, which heals over time to minimize scar appearance. There are several types of laser treatments and each has its own benefits.

The laser scar removal procedure is often performed under local anesthesia. Sometimes, general anesthesia may also used if treatment is made over a large area of the body. The laser surgery is usually performed from just a few minutes to an hour long or so depending on the patient’s condition and the methods used.

The patient’s recovery process can begin as early as three to four days after the laser treatment. Speed of skin regeneration will largely depend on the type of laser surgery method used, personal healing ability and adherence to medical instructions.

The most common side effect of laser scar removal surgery is skin hyper pigmentation. This condition can be made worse through sun exposure. Infection or allergic reactions are also possible side effects.

Do consult with your dermatologist to get an informed opinion to see if you are suitable for laser scar removal surgery.



Author: admin
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Lisa Mendel asked:


 

It is still unknown how acne forms into the different acne types. What science can tell us right now is that when the sebaceous glands produce excess sebum (oil), it can mix with the dead skin cells and dirt in the skin. This mixture becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. The dead skin cells, dirt and sebum clog up the skin pores. They the manifest themselves as reddish blemish on the skin surface, and this is what we know as acne.

 

Acne that is close to skin surface are what we know as whiteheads and blackhead, non-inflammatory type of acne. Acne that is painful to the touch and swell up, on the other hand, is the inflammatory type of acne. These are the pimples or zits and they can leave scars since they go beyond the top layer of the skin.

 

Acne scars vary from person to person. This is because people have different ****** topology. Thus, one person with acne scars can have just shallow imperfections (acne scars that are not so deep), another person may have “ice pick” scars (acne scars that look like chickenpox scars), and another person may have deep acne scars.

 

To date, there is still not a lot of information and research done on acne scars and how they form. Thus, acne scar treatments are not surprisingly limited. Acne scars and their treatment then needs to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. There is not a single acne scar treatment that works for everyone. If you have acne scars, you’ll need to talk to your dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon to find out what procedure or treatment is most appropriate for you.

 

A number of treatments for removing acne scar are available, and the treatment type depends on the type of acne scarring. Again, it’s best to talk to your dermatologist and find out which acne scar removal treatment (or even a combination of treatments) is the best for you.

 

Below are a few of the acne scar removal treatments available today:

 

* Dermabrasion

With this treatment, the skin is numbed or frozen. A machine removes damaged skin to make way for new skin growth. Dermabrasion is not the same as microdermabrasion. The latter wont remove acne scars.

 

* Laser resurfacing

This acne scar removal treatment uses laser to remove old skin that has been damaged to allow new skin to grow. Laser resurfacing is becoming very popular, and is promising to surpass dermabrasion as the treatment of choice when it comes to acne scar removal.

 

 

* Chemical peel

Chemical peeling is an acne scar removal method wherein the top layer of the skin is removed by applying acid or chemical. The procedure allows for a new smoother skin layer to grow.

 

* Punch

This acne scar removal method is recommended for people who have deep, pitted scars. The procedure involves removing the scar and the wound closed so that it can heal. This method has three techniques: punch excision, punch replacement and punch elevation.

 

* Subcision

This acne scar removal method involves detaching the acne scar from the deeper tissues. This lets a pool of blood to form under the acne scar and clot. The blood basically helps in the formation of connective tissues under the scar so that the acne scar area comes up level with the skin surface.

 

* Augmentation

In this acne scar removal method, the acne scar is injected with a material, either collagen or one’s own fat, with the goal of bringing the scarred skin to surface level.