The Different Types of Scars Explained
Our skin is the largest organ of our body. It’s also very fragile and needs to be handled with care. When any area of our skin gets burnt, suffers trauma or injury then our tissue can get scarred.
The problem with scars is that they don’t completely go away. If your scar is in a location that makes hiding it easy, you don’t have to worry about feeling conscious. But, if it’s in a plainly visible place, there are a few who might feel under confident because of it. This is where scar creams come in.
By using scar creams, the appearance and size of the scar can become lighter and smaller respectively. You need to know which type of scar cream would be suitable for your scars.
There are several types of scars that play an important role to determine the type of treatment you should opt for. In this article, we’ll list the different types of scars that you need to know of.
Ice Pick Scars
Ice pick scars are narrow-looking scars that run deep into the dermis. It’s actually quite aptly name considering the skin looks like it’s been Punctured with sharp instruments like ice shards. They seem slightly pinkish in color resembling a large open pore. The most common cause for the appearance of ice pick scars is due to blemishes. For example, when a cyst forms, it’s very common for it to go deep into the surface of our skin. It destroys the surrounding tissue giving it an appearance of a long, straight-looking scar.
A dermatologist may recommend punch excision or punch grafting. In the former method, the expert will cut out the scar, and then glue back the skin. Over time the skin joins together and starts healing. The latter method is also similar but instead of gluing, the expert fills the hole with a graft of soft skin.
Keloid Scars
These types of scars can be quite intense requiring even surgery. Keloid scars are caused due to a hyper healing process that may hamper physical movement. The main reason for the formation of the scar is when our body heals itself by producing collagen.
They look circular and jagged with thick clusters of scarred tissue covering the wound and the surrounding area. It has a dark reddish appearance and develops over time.
As mentioned above, these scars may require surgery but most of the time, steroid injections and cryotherapy can work just as good. But, since prevention is better than cure, it’s better to use pressure treatment and silicone gel pads on the area of the body that has been injured.
Boxcar Scars
Boxcar scars have a very uneven, broad shape with steep vertical sides. They look round or oval and are caused when the collagen is damaged due to inflammation in the skin tissues.
Due to the amount of collagen tissue lost, the area becomes loose creating dents. These types of scars can either be light or deep. Boxcar scars can also be treated by using dermal fillers. When fillers are injected into the skin depressions, it will give a more uniform appearance. Even punch excision or punch elevation can be used for treatment. In punch elevation, the expert will level the surface of the skin by raising the sagging skin.
Acne Scars
If you’ve ever suffered from acne, then you know exactly what these types of scars look like. In comparison to the other scars on the list, acne scars are less severe and vary in appearance. You can opt for methods like chemical peels or microneedling to help reduce the impression of acne scars. Even natural remedies such as aloe vera, raw honey, and baking soda can work here. These remedies may take time to work but they are effective.
Rolling Scars
As the name suggests, these scars look like wave-like or rolling depressions on the skin having a very jagged appearance. Rolling cars are formed when fibrous bands of tissue form between the subcutaneous tissue and the skin with the bands pulling the skin tissue giving it a wave-like look. The best treatment for this type of scars is subcision, when the fibrous bands are cut.
Resources— Very Well Health, WebMD
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