Can Old Burn Scars Really Be Treated?

Hello. I am Kang Jin-moon, a dermatologist. Burn scars are among the most challenging and difficult types of scars to treat in dermatology. In the past, there was a lack of suitable treatment methods, so most people with burn scars lived with them for life. This is why there are many people with burn scars that are particularly old compared to other types of scars. Today, I will address your questions about treating old burn scars, including whether they can be treated and which treatments are effective.

As many of you know, old burn scars are difficult to treat. However, the reason for this difficulty is not simply because the scars are old. In the past, there were few specialized burn treatment hospitals, and the environment often made it difficult to provide proper emergency care after a burn. Therefore, old burn scars are often large and severe, which is why they are considered difficult to treat.

Nevertheless, old burn scars are not untreatable. If you receive consistent treatment from a dermatologist with extensive experience in burn scar treatment, using methods proven effective through various clinical trials, you can certainly expect noticeable improvement.

Depending on the severity of the burn, skin structures such as the epidermis, dermis, hair follicles, and sweat glands are destroyed and then regenerated with fibrous tissue like collagen. In this process, the fibrous tissue is generated in a disorganized and excessive manner, resulting in burn scars that clearly differ from normal skin in terms of color, texture, and degree of lumpiness.

In the past, surgical methods such as skin grafting or tissue expansion were used for burn scar treatment, but the cosmetic improvement was not satisfactory. Recently, laser treatments have become widely used. The appropriate use of lasers that have the effect of regenerating skin cells can significantly improve even old and severe burn scars.

Effective Laser Treatments for Burn Scars

Various laser treatments are utilized for burn scar improvement.

• PinoL Laser
• StarLux Laser
• Ultrapulse Laser
• Angple Laser

The PinoL Technique, which Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon reported to various dermatological societies in the early 2000s and has since become an established burn scar treatment method, uses a high-output scar laser to create micro-holes in the burn scar area. This is reported to loosen contractures or thick, lumpy skin commonly found in burn scars and induce powerful skin regeneration, showing good effects on severe burn scars. In cases of less severe burn scars, combining StarLux Laser or Triamcinolone Scar Injection can sometimes yield similar effects to the PinoL Technique.

To achieve satisfactory results in treating various scars, including burn scars, there is one common and most important factor: perseverance.

Among the most recent cases I treated, I remember a woman in her 50s who had a burn scar on her arm from childhood. She used to be unable to even consider wearing short sleeves, even in the scorching summer, due to the burn scar. However, after consistent treatment, it improved significantly, and she wore short sleeves for the first time in decades. Another case of old burn scar treatment involves a woman in her 30s who received treatment for a facial burn scar about 10 years ago. She had given up on dating and marriage her entire life due to the facial burn scar she got as a child, but after treatment, it improved greatly, and she regained her confidence, leading to dating and even marriage. In this way, scar treatment goes beyond simply improving the skin; it can change a person's life, and I always approach treatment with a sense of reward and responsibility.