Effective Treatments For Burn Scars
This article discusses the effective treatments for burn scars that are often caused by a deep second degree burn or a small 3rd degree burn. There are six basic treatment strategies and these are surface treatments, topical treatments, steroids, surgery, freezing and alternative medicine. However, the presence of large scars after the burn wound has healed may be prevented by the use of bulky dressings that apply pressure on the wound or burn. Vitamin K may also be applied topically, used as a moisturizer or lotion, or ingested as a supplement during the healing period to help in reducing the possibility of getting a scar. It should be noted that a first degree burn or small second degree burn may not cause burn scars.
Based on studies by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, burn scars can be reduced by the application of silicone gels. The use of tapes or compression over the affected area often promote the healing of the wound and thus minimize the emergence of abnormal or irregular pigmentation of the new skin that is growing over the burned area. Steroids may also be injected or applied topically on the affected skin. Steroid creams may sometimes be prescribed by a doctor to treat the scars. A dermatologist may also inject certain kinds of steroids, including cortisone, into the skin in the affected region to minimize pain and inflammation caused by the scars.
Plastic surgeons may treat the surface of the skin where the scars are found to help make the scar less evident by causing it to more closely resemble the skin in the surrounding area. Some of the strategies for skin blending are demabrasion and laser therapy. Skin bleaching is often utilized for scars that have developed a darker color than the skin around them. Meanwhile, scars that are located in the limbs and restrict movement, aside from deep scars, will need surgical treatment. The usual strategy is to obtain skin grafts from other areas of the patient's body and transplant them to affected area. Artificial tissue and skin may also be used by plastic surgeons for scars that do not have sufficient surrounding skin to allow proper closure.
Meanwhile, cryosurgery or the freezing of the skin surrounding burn scars may be an effective strategy for eliminating the scars. Liquid nitrogen is sprayed on the surrounding skin so that blisters will form and these will gradually peel away, taking with them the scarred areas. The new skin that develops after this is expected to have a more uniform appearance and texture. Another strategy that is gaining acceptance by physicians, including the members of the Mayo Clinic, is the use of alternative medicine. For example, treatment of a mild burn with aloe vera extract has been found to promote faster healing. The extract can also minimize dryness and itching of the wound or scar. Those who want to reduce scars caused by burns may look for dermatologists who can advise them on the best treatment strategy for them. Online directories listing such physicians from various states, including Alaska, are available on the Internet.
