Radiant skin is not only aesthetically pleasing. It is also a sign of wellness and a confidence booster. Any form of injury to the skin, such as an abrasion, laceration, puncture, or burn, can leave a mark known as a scar.
Depending on how the scar affects their quality of life, some patients opt to consult a highly trained scars plastic surgeon regarding treatment options to lighten their scars.
The skin and scarring
The skin is the largest organ of the body. Its primary function is to act as a barrier that protects the body from the outside environment. It also regulates body temperature, excretes waste products through sweat, shields the body from harmful UV rays, and allows you to feel temperature, pressure, and touch. The skin is also crucial to the body’s immune system as it’s the first line of defense against harmful microorganisms.
A scar is a good indicator that your skin is capable of healing. In fact, scarring is a natural and important part of the healing process. A scar is made up of fibrous tissue that replaces the damaged skin after an injury. Minor wounds usually don’t result to scarring. However, severe ones leave scars that can be unsightly, most especially if it disfigures the body as in the case of facial scars.
Different types of scars
- Acne scars
Acne scars develop due to inflamed blemishes from skin pores that become swollen and filled with dead skin cells, excess oil, and bacteria. Skin damage rarely occurs in shallow lesions as they tend to heal quickly. On the other hand, deep lesions can affect the surrounding tissue. As the skin tries to heal the damage, it forms new collagen fibers that aren’t as smooth as the original skin. This results in discoloration and surface irregularity scars. Acnes scars do not cause physical discomfort or impaired function. The treatment usually depends on the type of acne scar
- Hypertrophic scars
These scars are somehow similar to keloids in appearance, but they form directly at the wound site and within the boundaries of the injury. Hypertrophic scars are thick clusters of scar tissue that look raised and red. Some look darker in color (hyperpigmented) while others look lighter (hypopigmented).
- Keloid scars
Although keloid scars look red and raised like hypertrophic scars, the former extends beyond the boundaries of the injury. It can also affect movement over time. The scar can be itchy or painful. Keloid scars are the effect of an aggressive healing process. Although they can occur anywhere on the boy, they usually develops in areas where there is little fatty tissue.
- Contractures
Contractures are scars that can restrict your movement. This is because the underlying tissue and skin tightened during the scar formation. Contractures often develop in burn patients and in injuries where there is a large amount of tissue loss. Wounds that form over a joint—such as the elbow, knee, fingers, or neck—can also lead to contractures that limit movement
Research has shown that facial disfigurement is a risk factor for depression in burn patients. Likewise, patients with severe contractures also find it harder to perform their daily activities. How a scarred person sees himself can also contribute to psychological distress and low self-esteem.
All of these can be detrimental to one’s quality of life. The good news is, there are many ways to remove a scar that are being offered by Dr. Zaydon in his Miami clinic.
About Dr. Zaydon – scars plastic surgeon
Dr. Zaydon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Zaydon serves as an expert witness on liability cases around the country. He has reviewed many cases and has served as an expert witness for both the plaintiff and defense. He is sought as an expert witness in these cases because of his experience and fairness. Read more about Dr. Zaydon’s role as a plastic surgery expert witness, Plastic Surgery Expert Medical Advisor, or about Plastic Surgery Peer Reviews and Plastic Surgery Independent Medical Evaluations.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
