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Scars on the face can be embarrassing and depressing. Cosmetic technology IN our great grandmothers’ times, a permanent scar was probably something you had to come to terms with, something that lessened your value as a bride, if you were unmarried. Scars can mess up your present and future, too. They can be embarrassing, annoying and depressing. But cosmetic technology has changed this nightmare and today you have many remedies for the scars. Beauticians state that of all the scars, the ones on the face like dark spots, freckles, scars from acne, diseases like chicken pox and herpes, lesions, pigmentation disorders, or sun-damaged skin, are those you have to be careful about. Going out with a scar may not make you feel confident, as you know you are not looking your best. But of late cosmetic surgery is also one of the feasible options, provided you are ready to shell out that kind of money, as is recommended to hide scars that are very evident on your face and look bad. There are five main methods adopted by cosmetic science to deal with these problems. "These treatments work on the epidermis, which is the uppermost layer of the skin and is made up of dead skin cells. The cosmetologists exfoliate this layer, which helps reduce scars with each session." Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that involves controlled abrasion of the upper layer of the skin with paper or other mechanical means to smoothen the skin and remove small scars, moles and fine wrinkles. It is mostly done on the face, but the back is another popular area. The procedure requires the patient to go through general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia. Laser is used more these days. The procedure could take anything from minutes to an hour, depending on the requirement on the degree of work to be done. "Laser is preferred as the procedure is less time consuming and chances of pigmentation are lesser with this method, " says Dr Vasnathi Mehta, a cosmetologist. This treatment has to be done by an expert only. The skin may look red and raw after the procedure and may take months to grow and heal. The procedure could cost anything from Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,000 for the face (for one sitting) and could go up to Rs 50,000 for the back. But post surgery is a problem. The skin needs to be protected as it becomes extremely sensitive. The recent development of fractional laser is as revolutionary as the results it can deliver. Unlike other laser treatments, this treatment is able to target microscopic areas of the skin, using focussed laser columns to eliminate old, damaged skin cells, penetrating beyond the skin’s surface without affecting the outer layer of the skin. Skin polishing, also
known as microdermabrasion, is the most popular treatment to reduce
scars. In this process, dead outermost surface of the skin is removed
by a light abrasion, though it is not supposed to be very effective on
severe scars and wound marks. Chemical peels is a scar-reducing
treatment which improves and smoothens the texture of the facial skin,
using a chemical solution, which causes the dead skin to peel off. —
MF
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