Of all the skin issues that can affect people, burns can be among the very worst. Severe incidents can leave people needing plastic surgery and suffering life-changing injuries. But when it comes to lesser injuries, it may be a bit easier to provide treatments to improve skin appearance.
Common burn scars include hypertrophic scars, where the affected areas are red and raised. Another sort is keloid scars, which are shiny and hairless bumps and therefore less visible.
Rarer forms of scarring can include keraunographic markings. These are feathery-like scars caused when people are struck by lightning, caused by the burning of small blood vessels. While very painful for a time, they can be a lasting reminder afterwards of a scary brush with death.
An example of this occurred this week when a trio of siblings were struck by lightning during heavy rain in London, an incident they managed to capture on camera as they were taking a selfie at that very moment.
Whatever your burn scars may be, we can provide help at our skin care clinic in Bristol.
There are various possible treatments for scars. Laser treatment can help by targeting the blood vessels in the scars to reduce the bumps and redness. Alternatively, steroid injections can soften the scars to help reduce their appearance.
Keloid scars can also be treated through cryotherapy, which involves freezing them in liquid nitrogen to soften them up before they fully emerge, while silicone gels can help with healing scars.
Of course, severe burns may need surgery and skin grafts, which goes a lot further than dermatological or cosmetic treatment. If this occurs, you should be treated in hospital first, with any later treatment having a limited impact.
If you do suffer a burn, it is vital to treat it as well as possible quickly. But once you have, you can then start to check out what treatment can help prevent the scar being a lasting blemish on your skin.
