Hello. I am Dr. Sang-ju Lee, a dermatologist and director of the Skin Concern Counseling Center. Today, I would like to introduce the story of someone who has lived with deep concerns about burn scars for a long time. They suffered a burn on their right arm from hot soup as a child, and because they did not receive proper treatment at the time, their skin is now hard and white, with brown pigmentation. Wearing long-sleeved clothes to cover the scar has become a habit, but they have neglected it until now, thinking that treatment might be difficult. Is it really possible to treat old burn scars?
Is it possible to treat old burn scars from childhood?
Yes, it is possible to treat old burn scars that occurred in childhood. Scars generally tend to persist even when they are old, so it may be necessary to consider active treatment. Various treatment methods can be applied depending on the extent and shape of the scar.
Why is active treatment necessary for burn scars?
Once a scar forms, it rarely disappears or improves on its own over time. Not treating a scar does not necessarily make it worse, but it will inevitably persist without change. Since a scar, once formed, stays with you for life, if you experience discomfort or psychological distress due to a scar, it is important to seek improvement through active treatment.
"I wanted to get rid of the scar, but I thought treating burn scars was not easy, so I have been living with it neglected until now."
What are the treatment methods for burn scars?
For burn scars, various treatment methods can be considered depending on their characteristics, depth, and extent. Broadly, they can be divided into surgical treatment methods and laser treatment. Laser treatment, in particular, is relatively non-invasive and can be expected to provide effective improvement, making it widely used in many cases.
What is Fractional Laser, a representative laser treatment?
One of the most representative methods among scar laser treatments is Fractional Laser. Fractional Laser works by creating microscopic holes in the skin to induce skin regeneration. Through this, it can be expected to improve scar tissue by promoting the growth of new skin.
- The treatable area at one time is limited, so repeated treatments are necessary.
- On average, 5 to 10 treatment sessions may be performed.
- Old burn scars often have a mix of white and brown areas.
- Especially for brown pigmented areas, combining pigment laser treatment can be expected to provide even more effective improvement.
If you are concerned about scars, seek active consultation to find a solution.
If you have been concerned about burn scars for a long time, various treatment methods have recently been developed, so it is advisable to actively consider treatment. Through consultation with medical staff, you can establish a treatment plan most suitable for your scar condition.
We hope this article has been of some help in resolving your skin concerns. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.