Mar 04, 2010

Weighing the options in scar treatment

As long as accidents happen, surgeons and researchers will be at work developing new scar treatment techniques. Whether used on patients of cosmetic or medical surgery, trauma victims or burn sufferers, scar treatments have found a practical use in the healthcare industry.

As more patients turn to these methods to remove blemishes and clear their skin, dermatologists have studied interventions to reduce scarring, though some methods of come up short.

In 2005, a team of dermatologists studied the use of imiquimods, medications used as an immune response modifier, on reducing the appearance of topical scar tissues, according to ModernMedicine.com.

Though the medications have been used as a scar treatment method, the study showed no difference between the substance and a control ointment on minimizing scars.

Other methods have proved to be effective, though can be particularly invasive.

Dr James Spencer, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, told the news source, "Resurfacing techniques, such as dermabrasion, are particularly effective for contour irregularities."

He added, "You have to sand down the edges to match the valley floor."

In comparison, products like silicone gel sheeting only require an external application to scars, and have been found to minimize their appearance within weeks.
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