What types of scars are there?

Scars can result from injury to the skin through disease and trauma. Common examples include burn scars, acne scars and surgical scars.

Individual scars can be further classified as raised (hypertrophic or keloid), depressed or atrophic.

Inflammation to the skin can also result in skin colour changes including red scars and scars that are darker than the surrounding skin known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

How do scars form?

Scars are a consequence of injury to the deeper layers of the skin. In some cases there is too much collagen and scar tissue and this results in hypertrophic or keloid scars. Conversely, there may be too little tissue and this leads to indented or atrophic scars. Scars from surgery may also lead to lines, lumps and redness.

Acne scars can be classified according to the shape and depth of scars.

Raised scars such as hypertrophic surgical scars can be treated with injections or laser resurfacing.

Atrophic scars can be treated by fractional ablative laser such as fractional CO2 Laser or non-ablative HLA Fractional PICO Laser. They treat “fractions” or parts of the skin’s surface which enables quicker healing times and safer treatments. Fractional lasers are ideal for acne scars, burn or trauma scars and treating coloured skin types. Laser takes multiple procedures for improvement. For patients with darker skin or prefer less downtime, Fractional RF Microneedling (FRM) is an excellent alternative procedure

Discolored scar can be treated by pigment or vascular laser.

Some scar will benefit from surgical revision or dermal filler.