Why Does Scarring Occur on the Skin?
Scarring of the skin is a common concern among patients and is a complex issue. Scarring occurs when the skin heals from injury. The collagen in normal skin is woven into a matrix pattern, giving it three dimensional movement. When skin is healing from an injury, the body replaces normal collagen with dense, thick, parallel strands of collagen that have a different appearance and behavior from normal skin. These scars can be shiny, thickened, red or hypopigmented (white).
What are the Different Types of Scars?
Everyone’s skin responds differently to injury. Some darker skin tones respond to inflammation with scarring and increased pigmentation, a condition called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Another variation of scar formation is called keloids. Keloids are areas of extreme overgrowth of scar tissue that are raised above the skin surface and extend beyond the borders of the original injury.
Acne is a common cause of scarring, mainly on the face and back. Acne scars come in multiple forms, from rolling to box car shape to ice-pick scars. Because they appear in such a conspicuous place (the face), acne scars often lead to clients being self-conscious about their appearance.
Stretch marks (also called striae distensae, or just “striae”) are another form of scar tissue formation. Stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched beyond its capacity to expand, causing micro tears. These tears then heal and form linear scars. They are commonly found on the abdomen, flanks and back. Pregnancy is a common cause, as is obesity. In early stages the scars can appear more red (striae rubrae) and in later, more healed stages they appear white (striae albae).
Of course, some scars are intentional, as in surgical scars. Even though surgeons do their best to minimize scarring, no one can predict how skin reacts to being cut. We believe surgical scars are best treated as early as possible to prevent the remodeling of collagen that occurs during healing.
How Do We Treat Scarring at Esslinger Medical and Aesthetics?
While scars are permanent, there are many treatments—such as laser therapy, microneedling, chemical peels, injectables, and topical agents—that can significantly improve their texture, color, and visibility. If you have a scar that bothers you, we can discuss which approach would be best suited to your skin type and goals.
Key treatments:
- Potenza RF microneedling
- LaseMD Ultra
- ICON 1540 fractional laser
- PRXt33 peel
- Rejuran
