When Is a Scar a Scar? on Yahoo! Health

Many patients who come to me with "scars" are actually experiencing post-inflammation redness or pigmentation - not a true scar.

The good news is that redness and pigmentation can improve from certain topical products. Spot treatments that include hydroquinone, kojic acid, or arbutin are highly effective in minimizing hyperpigmentation, while retinoids are your best bet for speeding cell turnover and hastening the replacement of damaged skin cells with healthy ones.

Real scars, on the other hand, cannot be improved by topical ingredients. So how do you know you're dealing with a scar, and not inflammation or hyperpigmentation? Consider these primary signs:

1. A scar will feel different to the touch than surrounding skin - it may be firmer in some cases, or thinner, depending on the type of scar. You may also experience "icepick" scars, which look like someone stuck a pin into the skin.

2. It can take up to three months for the redness and hyperpigmentation that blemishes and minor wounds leave behind to disappear. If you're still noticing a pronounced mark on the skin after three months, though, you may be dealing with a scar.

3. The base of a scar is typically higher or lower than the level of the normal skin that surrounds it.

4. Remember, there's no one color that indicates a scar - they can be reddish, brownish, or even normal skin color. They can also be either lighter or darker than surrounding skin.

So what can you do if that mark is a scar? As I mentioned, I don't recommend spending your money on topical products that will never truly erase scars. Fraxel laser treatments are currently the only laser treatment available for dramatically and permanently improving scars.

By stimulating collagen production, the Fraxel can actually heal scars from the inside out to repair depressions and other textural changes in your skin. An average of three sessions is typically necessary to see optimal results - and I must warn you that they can be expensive - but the results have been impressive. Another option is dermabrasion (NOT microdermabrasion!). Dermabrasion used a substance similar to sandpaper to flatten out raised scar. It has been successfully used for years. To find a dermatologist in your area go to http://www.asds.net/.

Wishing you great skin!

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Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book, "The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site, SkinTypeSolutions.com.

All of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available online, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.