How to Get Rid of Self-Harm Scars – Can Laser Remove Them?

This article will outline self-harm scar treatments and discuss whether lasers can eliminate these scars.

A laser can give the impression of being a magic wand that can erase any scar. However, medical lasers are not to be trifled with. It’s critical to understand these fundamental details before undergoing laser treatment for a scar in order to achieve outstanding results and prevent negative side effects.

Self Harm Scar Treatments

Depending on the kind of scarring you have, your skin type, and the results you want, there are a variety of scar treatments that are really effective.

Here is a brief overview of the treatments that are available to you; we will examine each one in more detail later.

• Dry needling/Microscopic needling
• Skin resurfacing with fractional laser.
• For discolored scars, use IPL (Intense Pulsed Light).
• Chemical skin peels.
• LED Light Therapy.
• medical tattooing for skin camouflage.
• makeup for hiding in plain sight.
• Artwork tattoos.

I don’t follow a predetermined procedure because your skin is totally unique to you. I advise scheduling a consultation so I can evaluate your skin. In order to determine a program that will work for you, we will talk about the types of treatments, products, and lifestyle choices that will give you the best results.

Self Harm Scar Removal With Ipl & Laser Treatments

One of the best and safest skin systems on the market today for treating various types of scar tissue is the Lynton 3Juve system.

I decided to invest in a Lynton system because they have extraordinarily high standards and produce excellent results. With more than 25 years of experience, it is clear why they are the market leader. They are so effective that the NHS in our country uses them in clinical settings. To learn more, CLICK HERE. Additionally, you’ll discover a list of Lynton clinics, ensuring your safety.

It is advantageous to stimulate new collagen and elastin in your skin through IPL and fractional laser treatments, which helps to improve the appearance and feel of your scar tissue. I may suggest one or both of these treatment modalities depending on your skin type and scar tissue.

Fractional laser is a resurfacing treatment that is incredibly effective at treating scar tissue. This ablative procedure heats up the skin’s new collagen and elastin through thermal stimulation. For deeper or larger areas of scarring, a fractional laser is appropriate.

Again, we would look at chemical skin peels and some light skin needling since fractional laser is not appropriate for scars with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is effective at treating minor scars and scars that have vascular concerns, such as purple or red discolouration. When a scar has fully healed, it usually turns white, but discoloration can occasionally be seen.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is marked by dark patches around the scarring that are darker than your natural skin tone, is not treatable with IPL. Darker skin tones are more typical of this. Chemical skin peels and products will be more suitable for you if you have hyperpigmentation around your scarring. More on these below.

Self Harm Scar Removal With Microneedling

Since my fascination with the skin’s capacity to heal began with microneedling, I am a huge fan of this technique. This procedure, in my opinion, serves as a wonderful reminder of the human body’s ingenuity.

Informally known as “dry tattooing,” microneedling is a popular procedure. To cause a minor trauma, it involves making microscopic punctures in the skin. Your skin begins to produce new collagen and elastin as a reaction to the trauma, which helps to plump the skin, even out the texture, and give the skin a youthful and smooth appearance. Additionally, it increases the production of melanin, which aids in restoring the natural skin tone of your skin.

Led Light Therapy Treatments

Given how well these two procedures complement one another, I might suggest using LED light therapy in addition to chemical skin peels. An underutilized and very successful treatment is light therapy.

Different wavelengths used in LED light therapy can pass through the skin and impact cells. Any product can only go so far in this. The LED wavelengths also promote collagen production, even out skin tone, and lessen skin inflammation. Red light therapy is excellent for promoting the production of collagen, speeding up the healing of cuts, and promoting skin renewal in general.

Chemical Skin Peels

You might be surprised to learn that chemical skin peels work well to get rid of scars from self-harm. Please don’t be put off by the term “chemical peel,” they are not as frightening as they sound! When used to treat shallow scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in scars, they can be very effective.

Once your skin has been evaluated, a suitable chemical skin peel will be chosen from the many that are available. They assist in removing the skin’s damaged, dead outer layers and open up passageways to the skin’s interior, where they encourage the production of melanin, collagen, and elastin. Along with your face, they can be applied to your body.

Self Harm Scar Removal With Medical Tattoo Treatments

In order to blend scars with your natural skin tone, medical tattooing involves tattooing skin-tone pigment into your skin.

Before getting a medical tattoo, I advise taking into account the previously mentioned scar treatment options. You must commit to this for the rest of your life because you need color refresh treatments every 12 to 18 months. The scar treatments I’ve previously mentioned work by boosting your natural melanin levels, which are what gives your skin its natural tone, to encourage your skin to renew, regenerate, and heal.

Please get in touch if you are thinking about getting a medical tattoo so we can go over all the options that might be available to you.

Skin Camouflage Makeup

Applying skin camouflage makeup daily is a temporary fix. You can use these products even as you receive scar treatment. As you can build the color and adjust it to match your natural skin tone, they can be a fantastic choice. The drawback of these products is that they take a lot of time to apply because fixing sprays and setting powders are required to keep the makeup in place.

Please consult your doctor if you are thinking about choosing this course of action. Certain brands or products might occasionally be available to you with a prescription. I personally use Ripar Cover, which is an awful name.) in clinic, as they have a lot of different colours, plus they can actually cover up an entire tattoo – and you wouldn’t know it was there! If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch; I’d be happy to give you tips on how to use these products properly.

Self Harm Scar Removal With Decorative Tattoo Treatments

First off, I should clarify that this isn’t a service I provide. But given that my clients frequently inform me that this is something they are thinking about, I’m bringing it up here.

While this is an option for you, it’s critical that you locate a tattoo artist with experience tattooing scar tissue. Scar tissue can be unpredictable to tattoo, and ink can “blow out” beneath the skin’s surface, causing sharp lines to blur or, worse yet, turn into blobs of ink. You can discuss tattoo designs that are appropriate for your scar tissue with a skilled tattoo artist. Typically, fine line work is discouraged due to the greatest risk of “blow out.” I would suggest speaking with your tattoo artist and asking to see examples of tattoos they have done on scars, ideally with healed results. If unsure, get a second opinion.

What You Should Know About Laser Treatment & Self Harm Scars

1. Scars are not able to be removed by laser therapy. Lasers are increasingly being used by dermatologists to treat many scars as a result of recent medical advancements. Laser treatment can:

• Prevent a raised scar from forming after surgery
• Reduce scar pain and itch
• Increase your range of motion if a scar limits movement

A scar cannot be completely removed by laser treatment, but it can be made less noticeable. When you receive laser scar treatment, one scar is replaced with a second, less noticeable scar.

2. Your results depend largely on the skills of the person performing the laser treatment. Dermatologists are at the forefront of researching and treating scars with lasers.

In the hands of a board-certified dermatologist, laser treatment can safely treat many types of scars.

When the person performing your laser treatment lacks medical expertise and specialized knowledge of the skin, laser treatment may not give you the results you seek. It can even be dangerous.

3. A medical consultation is crucial before any laser treatment. If someone promises to treat your scar before providing a medical consultation, walk away.

Give your dermatologist a list of the medications and supplements you take. To heal well and prevent the laser from scarring your skin, you may need to stop taking something for a while.

It’s essential for the person performing your laser treatment to know about you. Everyone is unique. To treat a scar effectively, the person performing your laser treatment must consider your skin type, characteristics of your scar, and your overall health.

During the medical consultation, tell your dermatologist if you:

• Get cold sores
• Have any medical condition, including diabetes
• Smoke
• Take any medications or supplements

It’s also important for your dermatologist to know what results you expect from treatment. Be honest.

4. Sun protection is crucial before and after laser treatment. If you show up for laser treatment with a tan or sunburn, your dermatologist cannot treat you. Using a laser could cause a serious burn or discolor your skin.

After having laser treatment, you’ll need to protect your skin from the sun until your skin heals. If the sun’s harmful rays hit your treated skin, you can develop another scar.

5. You may need to make a few lifestyle changes before treatment. To heal well and get the best results from laser treatment, dermatologists recommend that patients:

• Quit smoking for at least 2 weeks before laser treatment.
• Stop taking vitamin E, aspirin, and other medications and supplements that can delay healing.
• Stop using skin care products that contain a retinoid or glycolic acid for 2 to 4 weeks.
• Take medication to prevent getting cold sores if you’re prone to developing cold sores.
• Avoid the sun, tanning bed, or sunlamp. You cannot be treated if you have a tan or sunburn.

6. Your treatment plan may include more than laser treatment. To give patients the best results, dermatologists often use more than one treatment for scars. For example, if a patient has deep acne scars, a dermatologist may treat the scars with a laser. The patient may also get a filler.

7. You may need more than one laser treatment. To give a patient long-lasting results and the most improvement, a dermatologist may schedule a series of laser treatments. This is often necessary when using a type of laser called a non-ablative laser. You won’t have downtime with this laser, but to see the desired results, you may need a few laser treatments.

8. After laser treatment, you’ll need to care for the treated area at home. Following your dermatologist’s instructions for at-home care after laser treatment will help you see the best results and prevent possible side effects.

9. Results take time to appear. It can take months to see the results from laser scar treatment, and you may notice little improvement at first.

10. Insurance may not cover the cost. Laser scar treatment can ease the pain and itch that scars sometimes cause. If a scar limits movement, laser treatment can help you move more freely. Still, insurance providers consider laser treatments cosmetic treatments. Health insurance generally does not cover the cost of cosmetic treatments.

Concluson

Often resulting from a traumatic time, self-harm scars are a physical manifestation of a difficult time for many people where they needed an outlet to deal with and overwhelming situation, negative feelings, or painful memories. However, the main issue with self-harm scars is that they remain long after their underlying cause has been addressed and appropriately dealt with.