Skin Bleach for Scars
One of the human body's most marvelous characteristics is its ability to heal. Unfortunately, the healing process for burns, abrasions, surgeries, cuts and even acne can leave unsightly scars on the skin. There are many treatments available on the market for scarring of the skin. Popular among these is skin bleaching or skin lightening.
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Skin Scarring
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To understand how to treat a scar, it is necessary to understand how the scar formed in the first place. The severity of a scar depends on the depth of the injury to the skin. Cuts and abrasions that injure the epidermis---the top layer of the skin---will understandably result in scars that are less severe than injuries to the dermis---the thick mid-layer of skin. As the skin heals, it produces layers of collagen fibers that form over the wound, resulting in raised discolored tissue known as a scar.
Treating Scars
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Even after an cut, abrasion or lesion has healed and a scar has been formed, the skin continues to alter as it produces more collagen and repairs the blood vessels around the injury. Because of this, scars fade and flatten over time.
While it is impossible to erase a scar completely, there are treatments available to improve their appearance. Creams, chemical peels and microdermabrasions can lighten the appearance of more superficial scars, while deeper scars might require laser therapy or surgical scar repair.
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Skin Bleach
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Skin bleaching and lightening agents have traditionally been used to treat such conditions as hyper-pigmentation, freckles, age and liver spots and sun damage. Likewise, skin bleaching can be used to treat the discoloration of scarring; however, it will have little effect on the texture of the scarred area.
How Skin Bleaching Agents Work
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The most common forms of skin bleaching treatments include an active ingredient of either hydroquinone or glycolic acid. When the skin experiences a trauma and produces a scar, excessive melanin production can cause hyper-pigmentation of the area. Bleaching agents lighten the skin by targeting tyrosinase, the enzyme that triggers melanin production. Tyrosinase is also responsible for hair and eye color.
Risks of Scar Bleaching
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Since bleaching agents will lighten the area of the skin treated, it should only be applied to the scar. Additionally, the bleach should only be used until the scar matches its surrounding skin, as further use will cause the scar to be irregularly white.
Currently, the FDA has only approved hydroquinone solution of up to 2 percent to be sold over the counter. Greater concentration, up to 4 percent, can only be prescribed by a physician and should be used with caution.
Users of high-concentration hydroquinone and gycolic acid might experience irritation and burning of the skin with treatment. Patients should notify their doctor of any negative side effects.
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References
- Photo Credit Skin care. Beauty. image by Monika 3 Steps Ahead from Fotolia.com
