successfully declare war on scars
by Ilse Romahn
(21.09.2022) No body stays scar free forever. Whether as a result of cuts, skin diseases or operations – the causes for the development of stigmata are diverse. Although scarring is essential – following all, it protects the body from dangerous wound infections – it is not perceived as life-saving, but as disfiguring.
“Many people still perceive scars in clearly visible places as a blemish. This is expressed not only in real life, but also in fiction. While heroes in novels and films often have even skin, villains often have scars on their faces,” explains Dr. medical Joachim Graf von Finckenstein, plastic and aesthetic surgeon and head of the practice clinic in the Seearkaden Starnberg. Science also discovered disadvantages for people with scars: A study by Anjan Chatterjee shows that people have less brain activity in regions for empathy and compassion when they look at people with noticeable scars or other facial deformities. No wonder, then, that many sufferers are looking for ways to make these blemishes disappear. But which methods really help?
proper care
Fresh scars change over time – it can take regarding two years for them to fade and be considered fully healed. However, to ensure that they are as inconspicuous as possible, the first six months are particularly critical. “During this time, scars should be creamed regularly and well protected from the sun, because the newly formed tissue does not have any melanocytes, which protect the skin from damage caused by UV radiation. As a result, without sun protection, sunburn occurs more quickly and the risk of skin cancer increases. Permanent discoloration of the scar can also occur in some cases,” explains Dr. by Finckenstein. Even later, the scar and the rest of the body should always be well supplied with sunscreen. Positive side effect: The sun protection also prevents skin aging.
Individual treatment
In principle, scars last a lifetime. No injection, no ointment and no laser can completely reverse it. In some parts of the body, however, scars heal inconspicuously, while in other places they become wide and thick. In addition, every person scars differently: one is discreet and the other is bulging – the treatment is correspondingly individual. “During what is known as dermabrasion, for example, small diamond burs are used to gently remove the top layer of skin. Alternatively, experts often use a water laser for this process, which uses a combination of concentrated light and accelerated water to flatten the protruding scar tissue once more,” says Dr. by Finckenstein. When used correctly, cortisone can also reduce bulging scars. On the other hand, if you suffer from sunken scars like many former acne sufferers, you can have them padded out with hyaluronic acid. However, since the body breaks down the substance over time, the treatment must be repeated regularly. One increasingly used alternative is autologous fat because the results are more permanent and last a lifetime. In the case of wide scars, often only a surgical intervention can help. The scar is reopened and the skin areas are stitched together in an offset manner so that the wound can heal more unobtrusively.
Book tip: Why are villains in books and films often scarred and disfigured while the heroes look youthfully beautiful? This and many other interesting facts regarding beauty are revealed by Dr. Joachim Graf von Finckenstein in his new book “Why is beauty so appealing to us?” (ISBN: 9783756209453).
More information at www.finckenstein.de
