Conditions
Scar Treatment Made Easy
Gone are the days of slathering your skin in countless products, concoctions or homemade remedies to slowly get rid of scars or texture issues. At Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting, we know a better and faster way to approach scar treatment and will develop a customized treatment plan based on your unique type of scar. Your treatment plan may include a combination of laser therapies, microneedling, dermal fillers and more. Scar reversal is among our top specialties and we are proud to offer our patients some of the most innovative scar treatments on the market.
Understanding Scars and How to Treat Them
When skin is injured, your body naturally repairs the damage. The depth of the skin injury determines how your body repairs the damage. Damage to the topmost layer of skin rarely creates a scar, but if the skin is damaged at a deeper level, your body makes new tissue that is thicker than your skin. This thicker tissue often becomes a scar. Most scars are flat, but they can range in color from pink to red to brown. Pockmarks (atrophic scars) are also a common form of facial scarring, which tends to appear when acne or chickenpox heal. These types of scars are sunken and can lead to varying skin textures. Hypertrophic scars, such as keloids, are raised and are the result of an abnormal response to injury, such as a burn or cut.
There is no one-size-fits-all scar treatment. Every scar is different and has its own characteristics, and your age and how long you've had the scar are important factors in determining the most effective treatment for you. A cosmetic team at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting will examine your scars to determine what type they are and how to best treat them. Our patients have a distinct advantage over their scars thanks to our vast inventory of lasers and other treatment options for every type of scar.
Treatments Options for Scars
Coolpeel (CO2)
Some scars may be better suited for our Fractionated CO2 Laser or full-field resurfacing treatments, depending on the size, color and texture of the scar. During a fractional laser treatment, only a portion of the outer layer of skin is removed, with the remaining portion being left untouched. Alternatively, the entire surface area of skin is treated during full-field resurfacing. As a result of any laser treatment, old damaged skin is replaced with a fresh, smooth layer over time.
BBL & IPL
For facial scarring that is discolored or shows broken blood vessels, your cosmetic team may recommend BroadBand Light Therapy™ (BBL), which is the next generation of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy. It works by directing short blasts of high-intensity light into the areas of the skin where scars have caused discoloration.
Denave
DenaVe is another laser treatment for reddish-colored scars that reduces discoloration by shrinking the blood vessels under the scar. DenaVe’s advantage over traditional lasers is that it delivers laser energy in multiple microscopic pulses rather than one large continuous wavelength. This different delivery method results in significantly less pain while minimizing risk of bruising, swelling and downtime for patients.
Pico Discovery
For more severe scarring, the Pico Discovery laser may produce the fastest results. This is among the most cutting-edge skin rejuvenation lasers on the market, and many of our patients achieve optimal results in as few as two treatments. It can be completely customized to achieve your skin goals and can even be used on larger areas of the body. It targets the specific areas of your skin that have been affected by scarring and leaves other areas intact, thereby reducing downtime and enhancing results. It combines high fragmentation power with fractional picosecond power for unparalleled results in pigmentation and scar treatments.
RF Microneedling
We are proud to offer one of the latest innovations in microneedling treatments to our patients-Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling. It works by stimulating your body's production of collagen to provide immediate results that improve over time. Microneedling is different from standard microneedling treatments in that it delivers radiofrequency (heat) energy to deeper levels of the skin to trigger a better healing response. It effectively treats scars on any area of the face, including those near the eyes and lips. For patients looking for the least invasive way to treat scars while still enjoying impressive results, this may be the perfect option.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers work by replacing lost volume and smoothing the skin. The results of dermal fillers appear immediately and typically last between six and 12 months.
Steroid Injections
Steroids are injected into the scar tissue and help to decrease the size of the scar and soften the scar tissue. Steroid injections are sometimes combined with other treatments to help maximize healing and decrease the chance of the scar returning.
Profractional Laser
As a highly tunable laser capable of achieving dramatic results, Sciton’s Profractional Laser is an excellent choice for addressing noticeable scars. It is also used frequently by our dermatologists to treat post-surgery scars.
Picosure
The Discovery Pico laser is unique because it includes three wavelengths, 532 nm – 1064 nm – 694 nm, high peak power and up to four emission modes to combine maximum operating performance with the widest range of treatments, including scar revision.
Derma V From Lutronic
Depending on the location of the scarring and the depth of the damage, Derma V from Lutronic could be the best treatment option for you. This state-of-the-art laser treatment offers 1064 and 532 wavelengths, making it the only treatment available today that addresses brown and red skin spots. In most cases, our team will use Derma V in combination with other laser resurfacing treatments available at our practice to provide you with the comprehensive, personalized results you deserve.
A Combination of Scar Treatments for Ideal Results
Your cosmetic team at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting will consider many factors when developing your customized scar treatment plan, including your scar characteristics, skin color, skin type and your ideal timeline for achieving optimal results. In addition to laser therapy or microneedling, dermal fillers may be needed to reduce the appearance of indented (atrophic) scars such as pockmarks. Alternatively, a steroid injection may be helpful in reversing raised (hypertrophic) scars like keloids. Every scar is different and requires its own unique approach to reversal, which will likely include a combination of scar therapies.
Schedule your appointment at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting at 610-947-4322 to develop a scar treatment plan customized to your unique skin type and goals. We are eager to use our cutting-edge skin resurfacing technologies to help you achieve smooth, radiant skin.