CO2 Laser, scars Blog
Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about scars, or to ask Dr. Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.
Treatments: Surgical revision, pulsed dye laser (PDL), intense pulsed light (IPL), fillers, CO2 laser, silicone sheets, intralesional steroids.
Scars are permanent changes of the skin that result from trauma to the layer beneath the most superficial skin. They are caused by surgery, lacerations, severe inflammation of the skin with destruction of the vulnerable layer such as in severe acne or cyst formation or some blistering skin diseases. If scars leave indentations below skin level, resurfacing by CO2 laser or fillers can correct their appearance.
Red color change can be tackled by PDL or IPL; bulging or dehisced scars can be excised in various fashions. If a keloid forms in a scar, the presence of symptoms dictates treatment. Silicone sheets or injectable steroids help with pain and appearance by softening the keloid.
Excision of keloids is discouraged because of their high recurrence rate. If unavoidable, post-surgical intervention is customized and crucial to reduce chances of recurrence.
| Patient comments (source: Patient Satisfaction Report) | |
| 2008-06-05 11:42:22 | You people are superb. The doctor and the assistant understand what they are doing. The doctor really talks like a professional - she knows it for sure. |
| 2010-01-27 10:11:20 | n/a |
| 2008-05-29 10:09:53 | the doctor was comprehensive, concerned and frank |
Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about scars, or to ask Dr. Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.
I have burns on my arms and legs and acne on chest, back, and Face. My skin looks like it needs to be renewed. But, I don’t know what type of treatment I need that will be most effective.
The degree of burn often determines the final outcome of the scar ranging from dark discoloration to structural changes of skin with possible complete loss of pigment or even keloid formation. Each type of scar is treated differently. Darkening of skin may be managed with fading agents, retinoids, glycoloc acid peels or microdermabrasion. Structural changes often respond to CO2 laser resurfacing but may need surgical scar revision. Loss of pigment is most difficult to tackle and may necessitate skin grafting (transplanting a piece of your normally pigmented skin from a concealed area onto the burn scar). Keloids forming in burn scars are treated similarly to keloids from other causes. They are injected to reduce symptoms and swelling and subsequently can be revised by CO2 laser resurfacing or surgical intervention.
Dr. Ringpfeil,
I have scars on my forearm from an accident several years ago. I would like to diminish their size and appearance. What are my options?
Thank you!
Scars can now be treated in a number of different ways. If the skin texture is uneven, CO2 laser resurfacing using the Deep FX technology is the best treatment. Deep FX technology came to the market over 2 years ago and has revolutionized scar treatment. It will significantly reduce structural changes. If the scar is discolored, other laser treatments can reduce the color. Surgical revision of a scar is sometimes possible especially when a scar is small but may not give the best cosmetic results on the forearm.