What Are the Treatments for Scars Lighter-Than-Normal Skin Tone?

Some scars serve as reminders of youth, like the one on your elbow or knee from learning to ride a bike. But most scars serve as reminders of harrowing events, disfigure bodies and would best be gotten rid of. Scars from long-ago healed wounds appear as lighter-than-normal skin tone. Newer scars still contain red or purple coloring resulting from recent injury or trauma to the skin tissue. Some scar treatments reduce the size of scar tissues or reduce the appearance of old scars by evening out skin tone, while others help prevent visible scaring from new injuries.

Acne Scars

• Perhaps the worst place for scars is on the face as they often lower one's self-esteem. The most common cause of facial scaring is acne. Lighter-than-skin-tone acne scaring includes keloid, follicular atrophy, depressed fibrotic and atrophic scars. Treatment for these types of acne scaring includes use of a professional-grade dermabrasion cream to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and remove raised scar bumps and rough patches. A skin serum known as a skin eraser evens skin tone and makes scars less visible with weekly use.

Burn Scars

• Since untreated scars become lighter than your skin tone over time, it is important to properly treat new scars. Help prevent scaring from burns with topical vitamin K by rubbing it on the affected area soon after healing. Vitamin K, an important nutrient for healthy skin, is not effective on old, lighter-than-skin tone scars. Papaya and lime juices can both reduce and prevent scar tissue from forming. Rub the scar with a lime, and let it set on the area for about 10 minutes, rinse and repeat daily to reduce scar size and visibility. Crushed papaya rubbed into the newly healed scar keeps dead skin cells from developing into scars.

Cancer Treatment Scars

• Radiation treatments for various types of cancer often leave behind burn marks. Blue yarrow oil is effective in reducing noticeable radiation burns. Fill an atomizer bottle with water and eight drops of essential blue yarrow oil. Let the mixture rest for a couple of hours, then spray it on scars, letting the skin soak it in. Use this treatment daily to promote even skin tone and reduce the size of scar tissue.

Surgical Scars

• The healing process of skin following surgery involves the natural formation of fibrous tissues that cause scarring. Removal of old, lighter-than-skin-tone scars via surgery still leaves behind a scar, but with proper treatment it becomes nearly invisible once it has completely healed. Treat new scars by applying silicone gel sheeting over the surgical site to reduce the growth of scar tissue, thus reducing visibility.

Stretch Marks

• The need to hide unsightly and embarrassing stretch marks makes summers unbearable for some people. With continual use, over-the-counter topical creams specifically made for scar-tissue reduction and collagen synthesis help reduce the size and appearance of stretch marks over time. The best treatment for stretch marks is laser therapy. It works by breaking down scar tissue and stimulating collagen production and elastin repair. Another treatment, growing in popularity, is endermologie, which involves the use of rollers and gentle suction to increase circulation within the affected area. Endermologie, traditionally used for cellulite reduction, has recently been proven effective on stretch marks.