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Microdermabrasion for Treating Burn Scars

by Samara Al Romaithi

Skin burns are a result of an extreme exposure to the sun, chemicals, intense heat or electricity. The damage they cause can be mild or life threatening. Once the healing process has finished, it may be necessary to treat any scar tissue remaining.

The magnitude and severity of the scar will depend on its location and whether or not there was tissue loss during injury. Regardless, you need to begin immediate scar therapy before a scar is fully formed. If you take immediate action you can actually help decrease the chances of developing debilitating scar tissue, especially with serious burns.

Scar Treatment Options

Here are some of the most common treatment options available:

*Alternative Medicine

*Surgery

*Topical Techniques

*Steroids

*Resurfacing Techniques

Alternative medicine relies on natural products to minimize scar tissue. Natural products such as rose hip seed oil and natural ingredients such as Helix aspersa muller extract have been used for years to treat all kinds of skin problems. Both have shown good results especially with mild burns.

Surgerical techniques, such as grafting, may be required to treat extensive burns. This method may also be used in combination with any or all of the following burns scars treatment options. Keloid scars are often treated with this combination of techniques.

Topical techniques consist of pressure garments, tapes, and compression therapy. These techniques may precede or follow surgical intervention. Sometimes, they can be used on their own to treat smaller burn scars.

Steroids may be used topically or via injection. Cortisone is injected directly into the scar tissue to help alleviate pain and reduce swelling. Steroid creams are prescribed and can provide similar results.

Resurfacing techniques include laser therapy, chemical peels, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion. These methods help remove certain layers of the skin giving way to the newer, healthier looking skin hidden underneath. Let's take a closer look at one of these treatment options - microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion for Burn Scars

Microdermabrasion is one of the gentlest forms of resurfacing. It can be done in a spa and requires no anesthesia, however, it should never be considered as a substitute for dermabrasion or chemical peels.

Anesthesia and recovery are required for both of the previous treatment options. They are used to treat more extensive scars and help resurface the skin in a relatively short period of time.

Microdermabrasion, however, is so gentle that its results will take a while before showing. Scar removal with microdermabrasion is only possible if you are trying to get rid of a minor scars. Otherwise, it would be a good idea to use another treatment method.

In order to prevent burn scars from appearing you need to keep your skin safe from burns. If this isn't possible, however, you can use a natural cream such as BIOSKINCARE to treat skin burns. This product relies on natural ingredients such as Helix aspersa muller extract to provide effective burn scar removal.

Published December 15th, 2009

Filed in Health