A scar results from the body's healing response and replacing lost or damaged skin. Stretchmarks are scars that develop when the skin stretches or shrinks quickly.
During the healing process of a wound, the body forms a collagen layer to shield the open area. The adjacent skin expands over the collagen, meeting at the center to create a scar. Scars form for many reasons, including infections, surgery, injuries or tissue inflammation.
Metrolina Dermatology specializes in handling a range of scars, such as:
Hypertrophic scars emerge from your skin due to collagen overproduction. The elevated area remains within the confines of the original injury. Often red and somewhat thick, these scars may reduce in size as they mature.
Atrophic scars are indented rather than raised from the skin. They occur when the skin cannot regenerate tissue, with acne being the most common precursor to an atrophic scar.
A keloid is a dense scar that continually grows, becoming more prominent than the initial scar or wound. Keloids can develop following skin injuries such as cuts, burns, body piercings, or surgical procedures. This enlarged, denser scar results from the body producing excess collagen, a protein found throughout the body. People with darker skin tones are more prone to this type of scar. Contrary to other scars, keloid scars do not fade on their own over time.
Contracture scars form when there is extensive skin damage, such as a burn. They tighten as they mature, restricting mobility.
Before determining a suitable treatment, our medical practice examines your scar to identify its type how long you've had it and to ensure there are no indications of other issues.
How is it treated?
A visual examination of the skin is sufficient for diagnosing most scars. However, at Metrolina Dermatology, we occasionally encounter conditions that may initially resemble some type of scar but may require further examination.
To analyze your scar thoroughly, we may need to conduct a skin biopsy and examine it under a microscope in our laboratory. After making a definite diagnosis, we have several treatment options available to address scars, such as surgical scar revision, steroid injections or creams, silicone dressings or gels, laser therapy and cryotherapy.
We encourage you to book an appointment with one of our experienced board-certified dermatologists for a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan.
THE TREATMENTS BELOW CAN HELP WITH SCARRING AND STRETCHMARKS:
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