Outofstress.com

How to Get Rid of White Scars

Although many scars will naturally fade over time their appearance, especially in more exposed and prominent places, are a source of embarrassment for many people.

It therefore follows that the question of how to get rid of white scars is something that is asked again and again.

White scars are caused when damage has occurred in the melanocyte production. Melanocyte are pigment producing cells in the skin layers.
Small cuts and abrasions will not permanently damage these cells but deeper cuts and gashes will.

Medical Treatments for White Scars
Doctors and dermatologists are quite unanimous in their opinion that white scars, especially old white scars, cannot be completely removed except through medical treatments and even then total removal is unusual. The most common of these treatments includes collagen and steroid injections, which are non-surgical procedures and are used to smooth out and reduce the appearance of white scars.

More recently laser surgery has been used, quite effectively in some cases, to resurface the skin. Medical procedures are often lengthy and expensive however.

Home Remedies for White Scars
Some of these options will smooth out the raised effect of white scars, some will lessen their obvious appearance to varying degrees.
It is generally agreed that being able to treat a scar when it is new gives far greater chances of success in the long run.

Most home treatments require patience and meticulous application and can take many months before any improvement can be seen.

Aloe Vera – a completely natural treatment that can be massaged daily or several times daily into the skin. It can be bought as a gel or a cream.

Honey – this is a treatment recommended by beauty therapists as a way to reduce white scar visibility. The honey should be massaged into the skin and left for several minutes before rinsing off.

Vitamin E- this is an ingredient in many scar reducing or removal creams. Alternatively try massaging oil of vitamin E directly onto the scar. This treatment is particularly effective if used to treat very new scars, just after the wound has healed.

Cocoa butter – apply as for aloe vera. It is said to smooth out irregularities in the skin.

Lavender essential oil – again, this is applied directly to the skin and can be left on.

Although it is unlikely that any of the above will remove white scars they can help to reduce appearance and speed up the natural fading.
It is argued by many that home treatments themselves are ineffective and it is the massaging on application that aids improvement. Gently massaging a scar will help to break down the scar tissue and aid healing by increasing the blood flow to the area. As always, the question of how to get rid of white scars will continue to change as new products and methods are brought onto the market.

About the Author: Article by Outofstress.com expert author Deneice Arthurton. Do not reproduce this article.