What Can You Do about Pitted Scars?
Posted on: 29 November 2021
Pitted scars are a common problem that people tend to experience after significant wounds, or due to health problems like chicken pox and acne. Unlike normal scars, which are either level with the skin or slightly raised, pitted scars dip inwards, making it difficult to hide and harder to do things like apply makeup effectively. If you have one or more pitted scars and want to know how to get rid of them, here's a look at the way they work and what you can do.
What Causes Pitted Scars
Whenever the body is wounded, which includes things like acne and chicken pox sores opening up, the body goes to work to seal up the hole as quickly as possible. This is a complex process that involves sealing up the hole and creating new collagen to support the skin. When too much collagen is made, it can cause a raised scar, as there's more collagen there than before. However, with pitted scars, it's generally the opposite. Too little collagen means there's not enough there to prop the skin up to its normal level. In some cases, collagen forms in the wrong area, effectively pulling the skin down and inwards, creating the familiar pitted look.
Why Gels and Creams Rarely Work
Certain cosmetic products that can be purchased over the counter or from doctors for scarring can be helpful, but they're less effective with pitted scars. There's no direct way to instruct the body on how to make collagen, or how to produce more or less of it. While these products can help to gradually reduce the discoloration and raised nature of standard scars, pitted scars rarely see any benefit from these products, so they're likely not worth your time.
Getting Help
While creams and gels can't do much, that doesn't mean that you're without hope. Doctors and cosmetic professionals can greatly improve the appearance of pitted scars with the help of dermal fillers.
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are injected under the surface of the skin. They're often used to do things like plump up nasolabial folds and reduce wrinkles, but they're also useful in improving the look of pitted scars. The filler goes under the area that's dipped inward, effectively pushing it up and back into its normal position. With the right amount of filler, the pitted scar will become level and practically invisible.
While dermal fillers don't last forever, they can provide years of cosmetic improvement and can be reapplied as needed. If you're not happy with the look of your scars, don't waste time with products that may or may not work. Get to a cosmetic professional who can help to quickly restore your appearance with injectables.
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