Scar Talk: The MicroNeedling Solution

We’ve seen more than our share of scars at About Face. Some patients consider their scars badges of honour and mementos of youthful hijinks or perhaps a high school sports injury. Other patients would love to erase their scars, forget about childhood acne, and have beautiful, unblemished skin again.

Whichever side of the scar fence you’re on, we hope you’ll enjoy this article on improving the appearance of scars.

Deep Diving: Where Scars Form & Why

When you understand what scars are and where they come from, we wager you’ll have a whole new appreciation for them…and for what is necessary to erase them. The first thing you need to know is that there are three layers in your skin

• Epidermis – outermost layer
• Dermis – middle layer
• Hypodermis – bottom layer

A scar forms when the middle layer of skin is injured and the body tries to repair itself with collagen. “Think of it as a type of human cement utilized by the body to fill a hole, the wound,” wrote a New York City-based plastic surgeon on The Huffington Post. Unfortunately, when the “cement” dries, it can be discoloured with an uneven texture.

Now let’s take a look at three types of scars and their causes

• Acne scars – acne can leave the skin with dark and discoloured marks
• Pale, flat scars – a sign of skin that has knitted back together (surgically or naturally)
• Raised scars – excess of collagen production can create these scars

The cause of a scar is an important element of determining the best correction treatment protocol.

A Quick Word about Acne Scars

Acne scars trouble people of all ages, from teens with active bumps popping up all over to seniors with ageing scars from their youth. Interestingly, acne scars can develop due to:

• Allergies
• Environmental factors
• Hormone dysfunction,
• Nutritional deficiencies

Regardless of their origin, acne scars develop when skin follicles become blocked by excessive oils. The skin tries to self-heal and scar tissue forms when the collagen becomes deformed and thickens.

MicroNeedling for Scars in Edgecliff

The pedigree of microneedling is outstanding and the development of a device called the Dermapen 3 makes it even more effective. Unlike lasers, skin needling does not involve heating the dermal layer of the skin. Other benefits include:

• Less downtime
• Less pain
• Minimal side effects
• Reduced risk of infection
• No post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Scar correction is gradual. It may take as long as 3-4 months for the full benefits of a treatment to be seen. Most of our patients require a series of 4-6 skin-needling sessions to achieve their goals.

Don’t Be Scarred by Skin Trauma

Scar treatments are a phone call (or email) away! When you visit About Face, our friendly, caring, and (most importantly) expertly trained skin specialists will spend time with you, listen to your concerns, and help guide you to a scar treatment that’s right for you. Our email never sleeps, so why not contact us right now? We’d love to hear from you.