Can old white scars be removed?
Asked 2014-10-18
I have a lot of old (10 years) scars on my arms, mainly from cutting, that are hardly raised anymore, but very visible. Could a skin resurfacing procedure remove them?
2 answers
Procedure(s)
Answered 2014-11-12
Scars can be improved but not removed. Trunk & extremity scars can do especially poorly with scar revision. An examination would be of great assistance in giving a determination of the best options for a course of treatment of your scars. Consider a consult with an ASAPS Member in your area.
Best,
Gary R Culbertson, MD, FACS
This is a difficult situation. They cannot be removed but their appearance may be improved. Trying to "re-pigment" these scars can be time consuming and costly but it is an option. An Excimer Laser or ReLume device is used for this. Another option is to trying and lighten the skin adjacent to the white scars you have. This can be done with laser ablations of the adjacent skin.