Every person, and especially women, wants to be beautiful. But, unfortunately, life rarely passes without injuries and illnesses, after which ugly scars, or, scientifically, atrophic scars , remain in memory . How to get rid of this unpleasant cosmetic defect? Now there are so many ways that are offered, and all, if you believe the ads, are unique. Which one is really effective? Which one to choose, so as not to throw money down the drain and not lose time? Let's try to figure it out.
What is atrophic scars
Everyone knows what a scar is, but not everyone understands the word “atrophic”. It means that the scar is located below the plane of the skin, as it sinks. There are also hypertrophic scars, which, on the contrary, protrude beyond the skin. In the first case, less tissue is formed at the site of the destroyed one (due to this, dropping), and in the second, more, therefore, it protrudes. In addition to a cosmetic defect, atrophic scars have reduced functional properties. So, they are more sensitive to ultraviolet (they tolerate direct sunlight worse ), hair growth and the work of sweat glands are not restored in damaged areas .
Causes of occurrence
Atrophic scars may appear with any destruction of the collagen fibers of the skin. Main reasons:
- injuries with violation of the integrity of the skin (cut, burn, wound);
- infectious diseases (acne, boils, chickenpox);
- microdamage of the subcutaneous dermis without external incisions (stretch marks).
Scar Mechanism
In cases of mechanical damage to the skin, the body starts the system of their recovery, sending a lot of structures and cells to the problem place. Platelets, lymphocytes, macrophages, white blood cells, fibroblasts immediately rush there. Each of them performs its function, as a result of which the wound is healed. Almost immediately, white blood cells arriving at their destination begin to secrete specific cytokine substances that control the creation of the matrix and form future atrophic scars. Fibroblasts also from the first hours after the injury produce collagen, which is the basis of the extracellular matrix. Collagen fibers at the fracture site are intertwined, modified, a number of other complex processes occur. As a result, the wound heals, and a scar appears in its place.
In the case of acne, the activity of the sebaceous glands is disrupted, an increased amount of sebum begins to form. In some parts of the body (face, back, less often the chest), it accumulates, which leads to the appearance of coccal infections. Inflammatory processes, as it were, melt the skin cells and form pus. Atrophic scars remain at the autopsy site.
Stretch marks on the skin can appear from large physical exertion, age-related changes, during pregnancy, from malnutrition. In any case, the reticular layer of the skin is destroyed, collagen fibers are torn, and so-called subcutaneous dips are formed that look like scars of white, purple or pink color.
Correction methods
Since atrophic scars form due to various reasons, treatment that can provide a visible result cannot be the same for everyone. Today, there are such methods:
1. Surgical. Used for pronounced deep deep scars. The method consists in excising the body of the scar and lifting its edges with subsequent plastic surgery.
2. Mesotherapy. It consists in subcutaneous injections of drugs that contribute to the synthesis of collagen. Disadvantages - the pain of the procedure, the possibility of bruising, swelling, redness, traces of injection.
3. Dermabrasion. It is used to correct deep scars after various mechanical damage to the skin and acne. This procedure is superficial and deep, more traumatic. It consists in polishing the skin with microscopic crystals. The disadvantages of the method are the prolonged restoration of the dermis, the appearance of pigmentation.
4. Creams and ointments. The most accessible and easiest method.
5. Laser therapy. Used for all types of scars. It consists in exposure to the problem area of the skin with a carbon dioxide or vascular laser. This method gives the best results. Disadvantages - redness, pigmentation may appear, in some cases, the degeneration of the atrophic scar into colloidal.
6. Chemical peeling. The purpose of the procedure is to remove the upper layer of the dermis with subsequent replacement with a new, more gentle and healthy layer. The procedure is superficial and deep, which is performed under anesthesia. Disadvantages - prolonged restoration of the skin, pigmentation, complications after deep peeling.
Ointment scar treatment
The easiest way to remove atrophic scars is with creams and ointments sold at any pharmacy. The advantages of this method:
- universal accessibility;
- relatively low price;
- the possibility of treatment at home;
- ease of execution;
- acting locally without causing “inconvenience” to the whole body;
- lack of complications.
Disadvantages:
- duration of treatment;
- low effectiveness against deep and old scars.
There are remedies for the correction of scars, absorbable, softening, antibacterial, healing, stimulating collagen production, anti-inflammatory, whitening, moisturizing. Gels, ointments, creams are on sale. Many of them are used not only for the correction of scars, but also as anti-inflammatory, wound healing, sunscreens.
Popular drugs
At the moment, in pharmacies there is a large selection of funds from scars. The most popular and effective:
1. "Kontraktubeks", the price in the range of 300-800 rubles per tube 25 g.
2. "Kelofibrase." The average cost is 1200-1600 rubles per 25 gram tube. The composition includes urea, camphor, sodium heparin. The remedy quite effectively corrects fresh scars, helps against acne, shallow traces after acne.
3. “Kelo-Cat”. The average price of a 15 gram tube is about 2500 rubles. The composition of the product includes silicones dioxide and polysiloxane. Available in the form of a gel, spray. According to the manufacturer, “Kelo-Cat” is effective for the correction of any scars, including postoperative and burn ones.
4. "Zeraderm". The cost of a 15-gram tube is from 3900 rubles. The composition includes silicone, vitamins, antioxidant Q10, an ultraviolet filter with a degree of protection of 15.
5. "Dermatics." It costs from 1200 rubles for 15 grams of funds. The composition includes inert silicone. The cream is effective against any scars.
6. "Fermenkol". Price - from 1000 rubles. The composition of the product includes 9 natural collagenases of animal origin. It is used to correct any scars in the form of ointments, for phonophoresis, electrophoresis and applications.
Contractubex
As you can see from the list above, this is one of the cheapest, and therefore the most affordable, means. It includes:
- onion extract (dissolves blood clots, relieves inflammation, affects the reduction of scar rigidity);
- allantoin (accelerates healing, improves the permeability of scar tissue for active substances, moisturizes, renews the upper layers of the scar);
- heparin sodium (stops or significantly slows the growth of scar tissue, moisturizes, has an anti-allergic effect).
Cream "Mederma" is very similar to "Contractubex" in its composition, properties, effect and price. The difference is that there is no heparin in it.
The instructions say that “Kontraktubeks”, the price of which allows people with different incomes to purchase it, copes well with scars of various nature, contracture of tendons and joints, stretch marks, is used as a prophylactic. However, according to consumer reviews, this drug helps to remove only the freshest scars and stretch marks, and, by no means, everyone who uses it. That is, its healing properties are not effective for all skin types.
Laser correction
Sometimes a person has such atrophic scars, ointment, gel or other simple remedies against which they absolutely do not help. In recent years, laser technologies are widely used to correct all types of such skin lesions, regardless of their size and prescription. One of them is photothermolysis. The method consists in the action of pulses of a CO 2 laser on the problem area. As a result, fibroblasts increase collagen production, the scar, as it were, is tightened, becomes elastic and invisible. Photothermolysis is ambulatory, acting more deeply and, as a result, causing a longer period of rehabilitation. After each procedure, and there must be at least 6, the restoration of the skin lasts up to 7 days. The second type of photothermolysis is non-assembly. It is not so traumatic, but there must be up to 10 procedures for obtaining a visible effect. Photothermolysis is performed under local or general anesthesia, which depends on the location of the scar, its size and the sensitivity threshold of the client. Disadvantages:
- after the procedure, pain, itching, redness of the skin;
- pigmentation, peeling;
- the need for medication after the procedure.
Dermabrasion (laser peeling)
The method consists in vaporizing scar tissue layer by layer using an arbium or carbon dioxide laser. In cases with atrophic scars, it is performed in conjunction with collagen-based injections. This operation is also known as laser resurfacing of scars. The price of the procedure may be different, depending on the size of the scar. In most beauty salons for such a service they ask from 900 rubles per square centimeter. Grinding is carried out at a time of year when there is no intense sunlight (winter, autumn). As a result, the production of collagen is enhanced, regeneration occurs with the renewal of the skin. Recovery lasts at least a month. A distinctive feature of the method is its painlessness, so anesthesia is not needed. Immediately after the procedure, moisturizers and soothing agents are necessarily applied to the skin. The course is designed for 5-6 sessions. The duration of each is about 40 minutes. As a result of resurfacing, not only scars can disappear, but also pigmentation, small wrinkles, and pores are narrowed.